The 2026 Northern Iowa Panthers football team will represent the University of Northern Iowa in the 2026 NCAA Division I FCS football season and as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The Panthers will be led by second-year head coach Todd Stepsis and play home games at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Preseason MVFC poll

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 14, 2026, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Panthers were predicted to finish seventh in the conference.

Schedule

Game summaries

at Eastern Washington

Statistics UNIEWU First downs 23 27 Plays–yards 63–350 73–395 Rushes–yards 35–63 40–138 Passing yards 287 257 Passing: comp–att–int 20–28–1 24–33–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:41 29:19 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 20/28, 287 yards, INT Rushing Taj Hughes 3 carries, 23 yards Receiving Tay Norman 4 receptions, 61 yards Eastern Washington PassingNate Bell 24/33, 257 yards, 2 TD Rushing 18 carries, 94 yards, 3 TD Receiving Wesley Garrett 4 receptions, 70 yards

Drake (rivalry)

Statistics DRKEUNI First downs 21 25 Plays–yards 79–325 66–443 Rushes–yards 27–29 43–201 Passing yards 296 242 Passing: comp–att–int 31–52–3 16–23–0 Turnovers 5 0 Time of possession 25:24 34:36 Team Category Player Statistics Drake Passing Riley Warzynski 27/47, 241 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Braylon Wilson 6 carries, 19 yards Receiving Mitchell January 5 receptions, 75 yards, TD Northern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 16/23, 242 yards, 3 TD Rushing Caleb Kamara 4 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving Brady McCullough 4 receptions, 69 yards, 3 TD

at No. 18 (FBS) Iowa

Statistics UNIIOWA First downs 9 32 Plays–yards 58–155 64–640 Rushes–yards 25–53 41–422 Passing yards 102 218 Passing: comp–att–int 14–33–2 18–23–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:45 32:15 Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 11/27, 91 yards, 2 INT Rushing Caleb Kamara 7 carries, 21 yards Receiving Ayden Price 2 receptions, 32 yards Iowa Passing Hank Brown 12/12, 153 yards, 2 TD Rushing Xavier Williams 6 carries, 151 yards, 3 TD Receiving Nathan McNeil 3 receptions, 37 yards

No. 3 Illinois State

Statistics ILSTUNI First downs 26 18 Plays–yards Rushes–yards 31-119 34-199 Passing yards 228 217 Passing: comp–att–int 30-47-0 13-17-0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:57 29:03 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois State Passing Gage Roy 24/39, 193 yards, 2 TD RushingTyler Lofton14 carries, 72 yards Receiving Dylan Lord 12 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD Northern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 13/17, 217 yards, 2 TD Rushing Xavier Terrell 8 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Taj Hughes 3 receptions, 80 yards

No. 4 North Dakota

Statistics UNDUNI First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving

at Youngstown State

Statistics UNIYSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Youngstown State Passing Rushing Receiving

at Southern Illinois

Statistics UNISIU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving

Indiana State

Statistics INSTUNI First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Indiana State Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving

South Dakota State

Statistics SDSTUNI First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota State Passing Rushing Receiving Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving

at South Dakota

Statistics UNISDAK First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving South Dakota Passing Rushing Receiving

at Murray State

Statistics UNIMUR First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Northern Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Murray State Passing Rushing Receiving

Rankings

References