Northern Iowa Panthers football


The Northern Iowa Panthers football represents the University of Northern Iowa in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level as member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The program began in 1895 and has fielded a team every year since with the exceptions of 1906–1907 and 1943–1944. The Panthers play their home games at the UNI-Dome on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa, in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

History

Classifications

Conference championships

Northern Iowa has won thirty-three conference titles, the most out of the four Iowa Division I institutions. The Panthers have won two Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, twelve North Central Conference championships, three Association of Mid-Continent Universities football championships and sixteen Missouri Valley Football Conference championships.

College Division bowl games

Northern Iowa played in the NCAA's College Division from 1937–1972. Twice in those years they qualified for a College Division bowl game.

FCS Regional Championship games

The Panthers have played in 13 FCS Regional Championship Games, with a record of 6–7.
SeasonGameRecordOpponentResult
1985FCS Midwest Region11–2Georgia SouthernL 33–40
1987FCS Midwest Region10–3Arkansas StateW 49–28
1991FCS South Region11–2MarshallL 13–41
1992FCS West Region12–1McNeese StateW 29–7
1995FCS South Region8–5MarshallL 24–41
1996FCS East Region12–1William & MaryW 38–35
2001FCS Midwest Region11–2MaineW 56–28
2003FCS East Region10–3DelawareL 7–37
2005FCS East Region10–3New HampshireW 24–21
2007FCS Midwest Region12–1DelawareL 27–39
2008FCS Midwest Region12–2New HampshireW 36–34
2011FCS Midwest Region10–3MontanaL 10–48
2015FCS Midwest Region9–4North Dakota StateL 13–23

FCS National Championship games

UNI-Dome

The UNI-Dome opened in 1976, as the home of the UNI Panthers football team. The facility's capacity for football is 16,324.
At football games, where cold temperatures are frequently an issue for fans, the UNI-Dome announcers have a tradition during pre-game rituals. The announcers will announce the weather in the town where the visiting team is from, and then will say "The temperature in Cedar Falls, no wind, 72 degrees, Welcome to the UNI-DOME!" to emphasize the fact that a domed stadium is not affected as much by the weather. As of December 1, 2019, the Panthers have a home record of 220-56-1, having won nearly 80 percent of their games in the dome.

All-Americans

First Team Selections
WR=Williamson Ratings; AP=Associated Press;

Notable players

*Note: This list only includes players taken in the NFL Draft, it does not include those players who signed contracts with NFL teams outside the draft and the CFL
Year draftedRoundOverall PickPlayerTeamPositionNotes
20185159Daurice FountainColtsWR
20164127Deiondre' HallBearsCB
2015386David JohnsonCardinalsRBFirst Team All-Pro ; 2016 Pro Bowler; led NFL in total yards from scrimmage and all-purpose yards in 2016.
20087225Brandon KeithCardinalsT
2008396Chad RinehartRedskinsTStarted 47 of 58 NFL games in a six-year career.
20025169Ryan HannamSeahawksTEMember of 2005 NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks.
20015159Eddie BerlinTitansWR
2000260Brad MeesterJaguarsOLPlayed 14 seasons with Jacksonville, retired as franchise record holder for seasons played, games played and games started.
19995137Tyree TaltonLionsDB
1997388Dedric WardJetsWRMember of the 2003 NFL Champion New England Pariots.
19935129Kenny SheddJetsWR
1991357James JonesBrownsDLStarted 140 of 160 career games with four teams over ten-year NFL career; member of the inaugural Baltimore Ravens roster in 1996.
19906159Bryce PaupPackersLB1995 NFL Defensive Player of the Year; 1995 All-Pro; four-time Pro Bowler ; 1995 NFL Sack Leader; 71 career sacks.
198211296Steve SandonPatriotsQB
197610289Bill SalmonVikingsQB
17440Mike TimmermansPackersOL
196817458Ray PedersenColtsOL/DL
1966574Randy SchultzBrownsRBSchultz was drafted in the 20th round and 177th overall by the New York Jets in the AFL Draft.
18261Dave KorverFalconsOL