This is a list of seasons completed by the Northern Iowa Panthers football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).The Division I-A, I-AA and I-AAA designations were confusing and as a result, misapplied by the public, boosters and media when referring not only to their local football programs but also to other sports such as basketball. The Division I Board of Directors, composed of Division I presidents and chancellors voted on the change in August 2006. The Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) includes those programs that compete in an effort to participate in the postseason bowl system. The NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) includes those programs that compete in an effort to participate in the NCAA championship postseason structure (one of the 88 NCAA national championships). NCAA.org The Panthers fielded their first team in 1895 with no head coach designated. The first head coach was Fred Wolff and currently is Todd Stepsis.
There was no football team fielded during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because it was deemed "...too severe to be played at the institution." Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II.
Seasons Legend † National ChampionsNorthern Iowa competes in the Football Championship Subdivision of Division I. ‡ Conference ChampionsThe Gateway Football Conference became the Missouri Valley Football Conference in 2008. ^ Bowl game berthThe yellow color is used only when Northern Iowa reaches a bowl but does not hold a share in the conference title. In any case that Northern Iowa has a share of the conference championship, the green color is used. * Playoff berthThe blue color is used only when Northern Iowa receives a playoff berth but does not hold a share in the conference title. In any case that Northern Iowa has a share of the conference championship, the green color is used. SeasonCoachConferenceSeason resultsBowl/Playoff resultFinal rankingConference finishWinsLossesTiesOvertime rules in college football were introduced in 1996, making ties impossible.NCAA/TSN PollSince the 1978 split in divisions, the NCAA, or more recently, The Sports Network Poll has been the major poll at the FCS level.Coaches PollThe FCS Coaches Poll was introduced in 2007. Therefore, polls for prior seasons do not exist. Iowa State Normal School Normals 1895 No coach Independent — 1 2 0 — 1896 Independent — 4 3 0 — 1897 Fred Wolff Independent — 5 1 0 — 1898 Kalita E. Leighton Independent — 4 0 1 — 1899 George Sweetland Independent — 1 3 2 — 1900 Fred A. Williams Independent — 3 4 1 — 1901 George B. Affleck Independent — 5 3 2 — 1902 Charles Pell Independent — 1 6 1 — 1903 Independent — 4 3 1 — 1904 Independent — 5 3 1 — 1905 Independent — 5 3 2 — 1906Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board 1907 1908 Clayton B. Simmons Independent — 5 0 0 — 1909 Independent — 6 0 0 — Iowa State Teachers College Tutors/Panthers 1910 James Owen Perrine Independent — 1 4 1 — 1911 Pat Pasini Independent — 3 2 1 — 1912 Independent — 5 2 1 — 1913 Allen P. Berkstresser Independent — 2 3 1 — 1914 Independent — 2 5 1 — 1915 Independent — 3 3 0 — 1916 Independent — 1 7 0 — 1917 James Owen Perrine Independent — 2 3 0 — 1918 Russell Glaesner Independent — 1 3 0 — 1919 Ivan Doseff Independent — 2 4 1 — 1920 Independent — 4 2 1 — 1921 Leland L. Mendenhall Independent — 5 1 1 — 1922 Independent — 5 2 0 — 1923 IIAC 3 3 1 — 1924 IIAC 2 5 0 — 1925 Paul F. Bender IIAC 5 1 2 — 1926 IIAC 5 3 0 — S1927‡IIAC1st701—1928‡IIAC?1st513— 1929 IIAC 3 4 0 — 1930 Lawrence W. Whitford IIAC 2 5 1 — 1931 IIAC 3 5 0 — 1932 IIAC 5 3 1 — 1933 John Baker IIAC 3 6 0 — 1934 IIAC 3 3 2 — 1935 Thomas Johnson NCC 4 2 2 — 1936 Clyde Starbeck NCC 6th 5 2 2 — 1937 NCC T-3rd 2 4 3 — 1938 NCC 7th 3 5 0 — 1939 NCC 4th 5 3 1 — 1940‡NCC1st810—1941‡NCC1st530—1942‡NCC1st610— 1943Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II 1944 1945 NCC —There was no North Central Conference play because of World War II in 1945. 3 3 0 — 1946‡NCC1st412—1947‡NCCT-1st♦531—1948‡NCC1st730—1949‡NCCT-1st♦520— 1950 NCC T-2nd 4 4 0 — 1951 NCC 3rd 3 4 0 — 1952‡NCC1st620— 1953 NCC 2nd 6 3 0 — 1954 NCC T-3rd 3 5 0 — 1955 NCC 2nd 8 1 0 — 1956 NCC 7th 2 5 1 — 1957 NCC 3rd 5 3 0 — 1958 Bill Hammer NCC 7th 4 5 0 — 1959 NCC T-4th 6 3 0 — 1960‡^ Stan SheriffNCCT-1st♦910Lost Mineral Water Bowl vs. Hillsdale College, 17-6 State College of Iowa Panthers1961‡NCCT-1st♦720—1962‡NCCT-1st♦711— 1963 NCC T-2nd 5 3 1 — 1964‡^NCCT-1st♦920Won Pecan Bowl vs. Lamar Tech, 19-17 1965 NCC 3rd 4 5 0 — 1966 NCC 3rd 4 5 0 — 1967 NCC 2nd 7 3 0 — 1968 NCC T-3rd 5 5 0 — Northern Iowa Panthers 1969 NCC 2nd 5 5 0 — 1970 NCC T-6th 2 8 0 — 1971 NCC T-2nd 4 5 0 — 1972 NCC T-4th 4 6 0 — 1973 NCC 7th 5 5 0 — 1974 NCC T-5th 5 4 1 — 1975* NCC 2nd 9 3 0Quarterfinals Division II playoffs 1976 NCC 3rd 8 3 0 — 1977 NCC T-2nd 6 5 0 — 1978 AMCU 6th 2 9 0 — 1979 AMCU 2nd 6 5 0 — 1980 AMCU 3rd 7 4 0 — 1981‡AMCUT-1st♦560—1982‡AMCUT-1st♦461— 1983 Darrell Mudra AMCU 3rd 6 5 0 — 1984‡AMCUT-1st♦920—181985‡*GFC1st1120Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs4 1986 GFC T-2nd 7 3 1 — 1987‡*GFC1st1040Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs4 1988 Earle Bruce GFC 4th 5 6 0 — 1989 Terry Allen GFC T-2nd 8 3 0 — 201990‡*GFCT–1st♦840First Round Division I-AA playoffs111991‡*GFC1st1120Quarterfinals Division I-AA playoffs41992‡*GFC1st1220Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs31993‡*GFC1st840First Round Division I-AA playoffs131994‡*GFC1st840First Round Division I-AA playoffs111995‡*GFCT–1st♦850Quarterfinals Division I-AA playoffs181996‡*GFC1st1220Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs3 1997 Mike Dunbar GFC 2nd 7 4 0 — 1998 GFC T–3rd 7 4 0 — 25 1999 GFC 3rd 8 3 0 — 15 2000 GFC 4th 7 4 0 — 192001‡* Mark FarleyGFC1st1130Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs4 2002 GFC T-6th 5 6 0 — 2003‡*GFCT–1st♦1030Quarterfinals Division I-AA playoffs5 2004 GFC 3rd 7 4 0 — 252005‡*GFCT–1st♦1140Finals Division I-AA playoffs2 2006 GFC T–2nd 7 4 0 — 172007‡*GFC1st1210Quarterfinals Division I FCS playoffs452008‡*MVFCT–1st♦1230Semifinals Division I FCS playoffs44 2009 MVFC T–3rd 7 4 0 — 18 182010‡*MVFC1st750First Round Division I FCS playoffs19182011‡*MVFCT–1st♦1030Quarterfinals Division I FCS playoffs65 2012 MVFC T–6th 5 6 0 — RV — 2013 MVFC T–7th 7 5 0 — RV RV 2014* MVFC 3rd 9 5 0Second Round Division I FCS playoffs 10 10 2015* MVFC T–3rd 9 5 0Quarterfinals Division I FCS playoffs8 6 2016 MVFC T–4th 5 6 0 — RV — 2017* MVFC T–2nd 8 5 0 Second Round Division I FCS playoffs 19 19 2018* MVFC T–3rd 7 6 0 Second Round Division I FCS playoffs 23 — 2019* MVFC 2nd 10 5 0 Quarterfinal Division I FCS playoffs 5 52020 MVFC 6th 3 4 0 — 25 24 2021* MVFC 6th 6 6 0 First Round Division I FCS playoffs 23 252022 MVFC T–3rd 6 5 0 — — —2023 MVFC T–3rd 6 5 0 — — —2024 MVFC 10th 3 9 0 — — —2025 Todd Stepsis MVFC 9th 3 9 0 — — —Total 680 441 47(only includes regular season games) 1 1 —(only includes bowl games; 2 appearances) 26 23 —(only includes playoff games; 22 appearances) 707 463 47(all games) ♦
Bowl results SeasonDateBowlOpponentResultSiteAttendance 1960 November 26 Mineral Water Bowl Hillsdale College L 17-6 Excelsior Springs, Missouri 1964 December 12 Pecan Bowl Lamar Tech W 19-17 Abilene, Texas
Playoff results Any playoff appearance prior to 1978 was in the NCAA Division II playoffs. All subsequent appearances were in Division I-AA, now known as Football Championship Subdivision. When Division I-AA was formed for football in 1978, the playoffs included just four teams, doubling to eight teams in its fourth season of 1981. In 1982 the I-AA playoffs were expanded to 12 teams, with each of the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye and a home game in the quarterfinals. In its ninth season of 1986, the I-AA playoffs were expanded again, to the present 16-team format, requiring four post-season victories to win the title. In April 2008 the NCAA announced that the playoff field will again expand to include 20 teams beginning in 2010. The playoffs expanded to 24 teams starting in 2013.
SeasonDateRoundUNI SeedOpponentResultSiteAttendance 1975 November 29 First - Western Kentucky L 14-12 Cedar Falls, Iowa 2,500 1985 December 7 Quarterfinals 4 Eastern Washington W 17-14 Cedar Falls, Iowa 6,220 1985 December 14 Semifinals 4 Georgia Southern L 40-33 Cedar Falls, Iowa 12,300 1987 November 28 First 3 Youngstown State W 31-28 Cedar Falls, Iowa 3,887 1987 December 5 Quarterfinals 3 Arkansas State W 49-28 Cedar Falls, Iowa 6,100 1987 December 12 Semifinals 3 Northeast Louisiana L 44-41 OT Monroe, Louisiana 14,443 1990 December 12 First 11 Boise State L 20-3 Boise, Idaho 11,691 1991 November 30 First 3 Weber State W 38-21 Cedar Falls, Iowa 8,723 1991 December 7 Quarterfinals 3 Marshall L 41-13 Huntington, West Virginia 16,889 1992 November 28 First 3 Eastern Washington W 17-14 Cedar Falls, Iowa 13,149 1992 December 5 Quarterfinals 3 McNeese State W 29-7 Cedar Falls, Iowa 13,375 1992 December 12 Semifinals 3 Youngstown State L 19-7 Cedar Falls, Iowa 14,682 1993 November 27 First 13 Boston L 27-21 2OT Boston, Massachusetts 6,882 1994 November 28 First 11 Montana L 23-20 Missoula, Montana 7,958 1995 November 25 First 16 Murray State W 35-34 Murray, Kentucky 7,633 1995 December 3 Quarterfinals 16 Marshall L 41-24 Huntington, West Virginia 14,472 1996 November 30 First 3 Eastern Illinois W 41-24 Cedar Falls, Iowa 10,402 1996 December 7 Quarterfinals 3 William & Mary W 38-35 Cedar Falls, Iowa 10,796 1996 December 14 Semifinals 3 Marshall L 31-14 Huntington, West Virginia 14,414 2001 December 1 First - Eastern Illinois W 49-43 Charleston, Illinois 6,824 2001 December 8 Quarterfinals - Maine W 56-28 Cedar Falls, Iowa 9,525 2001 December 15 Semifinals - Montana L 38-0 Missoula, Montana 18,848 2003 November 29 First - Montana State W 35-14 Cedar Falls, Iowa 10,165 2003 December 2 Quarterfinals - Delaware L 37-7 Newark, Delaware 11,881 2005 November 26 First - Eastern Washington W 41-38 Cedar Falls, Iowa 7,746 2005 December 2 Quarterfinals - New Hampshire W 24-21 Durham, New Hampshire 8,448 2005 December 9 Semifinals - Texas State W 40-37 OT San Marcos, Texas 15,712 2005 December 16 Championship - Appalachian State L 21-16 Chattanooga, Tennessee 20,236 2007 November 24 First 1 New Hampshire W 38-35 Cedar Falls, Iowa 16,015 2007 December 1 Quarterfinals 1 Delaware L 39-27 Cedar Falls, Iowa 15,803 2008 November 29 First 3 Maine W 45-0 Cedar Falls, Iowa 8,477 2008 December 6 Quarterfinals 3 New Hampshire W 36-34 Cedar Falls, Iowa 9,055 2008 December 13 Semifinals 3 Richmond L 21-20 Cedar Falls, Iowa 12,062 2010 November 27 First - Lehigh L 14-7 Cedar Falls, Iowa 5,990 2011 December 3 Second 5 Wofford W 28-21 Cedar Falls, Iowa 6,915 2011 December 9 Quarterfinals 5 Montana L 48-10 Missoula, Montana 23,049 2014 November 29 First - Stephen F. Austin W 44-10 Cedar Falls, Iowa 10,307 2014 December 6 Second - Illinois State L 41-21 Normal, Illinois 5,575 2015 November 28 First - Eastern Illinois W 53-17 Cedar Falls, Iowa 7,062 2015 December 3 Second - Portland State W 29-17 Portland, Oregon 8,022 2015 December 12 Quarterfinals - North Dakota State L 23-13 Fargo, North Dakota 18,041
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