2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football
ConferenceMissouri Valley Football Conference
Record3–9 (1–7 MVFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNate Thompson (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorAl Smith (1st season)
Home stadiumUNI-Dome
2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 1 North Dakota State $^   8 – 0     12 – 1  
No. 12 South Dakota ^   6 – 2     10 – 5  
No. 17т Illinois State ^   5 – 3     12 – 4  
No. 19 North Dakota ^   5 – 3     8 – 6  
No. 14 Youngstown State ^   5 – 3     8 – 5  
No. 16 South Dakota State ^   4 – 4     9 – 5  
No. 23 Southern Illinois   4 – 4     7 – 5  
Northern Iowa   1 – 7     3 – 9  
Murray State   1 – 7     1 – 11  
Indiana State   1 – 7     3 – 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
As of December 21, 2025
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers competed as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and were led by first-year head coach Todd Stepsis.[1] Stepsis took over for longtime coach Mark Farley, who retired from coaching at the end of the 2024 season.[2] Stepsis was assisted by first-year offensive coordinator Nate Thompson and first-year defensive coordinator Al Smith. The Panthers played home games at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 301:00 p.m.Butler*
ESPN+W 38–149,079
September 63:00 p.m.at Wyoming*
Altitude2L 7–3125,009
September 134:00 p.m.Eastern Washington*
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+W 17–1410,774
September 207:00 p.m.at Utah Tech*
ESPN+L 9–204,784
October 44:00 p.m.No. 15 North Dakota
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+L 7–3512,048
October 112:00 p.m.at No. 2 South Dakota State
ESPN+L 3–3119,342
October 181:00 p.m.No. 22 South Dakota
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+L 14–178,434
October 252:00 p.m.at No. 16 Southern Illinois
ESPN+L 17–318,115
November 12:00 p.m.at No. 17 Illinois State
ESPN+L 16–317,756
November 81:00 p.m.Murray State
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+W 31–148,529
November 152:30 p.m.at No. 1 North Dakota State
ESPN+L 16–4814,736
November 221:00 p.m.No. 18 Youngstown State
  • UNI-Dome
  • Cedar Falls, IA
ESPN+L 32–357,361
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[3][4]

Preseason

MVFC poll

Main article: 2025 Missouri Valley Football Conference season § Preseason

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Panthers were predicted to finish eighth in the conference.[5]

Game summaries

All times are Central time

Butler

See also: 2025 Butler Bulldogs football team
Butler Bulldogs (0–0) at Northern Iowa Panthers (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 7 7 0014
Panthers 10 7 14738

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • Game weather: Indoors; 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 9,079
  • Referee: David Hergert
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brad Wells (play-by-play) & Justin Surrency (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (7:20) UNI – Derek Anderson 6-yard pass from Matthew Schecklman, Max Bartachek kick (Drive: 3 plays, 24 yards, 1:10; Northern Iowa 7–0)
  • (2:22) BUT – Nick Munson 4-yard pass from Reagan Andrew, Beck Janki kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:58; Tied 7–7)
  • (0:09) UNI – Max Bartachek 36-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 2:06; Northern Iowa 10–7)
Second quarter
  • (9:55) BUT – Reagan Andrew 9-yard run, Beck Janki kick (Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 5:09; Butler 14–10)
  • (5:13) UNI – Harrison Bey-Buie 1-yard run, Max Bartachek kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:36; Northern Iowa 17–14)
Third quarter
  • (9:51) UNI – Tysen Kershaw 16-yard pass from Matthew Schecklman, Max Bartachek kick (Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 5:03; Northern Iowa 24–14)
  • (1:03) UNI – JC Roque Jr. 26-yard pass from Matthew Schecklman, Max Bartachek kick (Drive: 9 plays, 85 yards, 3:58; Northern Iowa 31–14)
Fourth quarter
  • (12:24) UNI – Ayden Price 25-yard pass from Matthew Schecklman, Max Bartachek kick (Drive: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:25; Northern Iowa 38–14)
Statistics BUT UNI
First downs 19 25
Total yards 336 448
Rushing yards 147 213
Passing yards 189 235
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-36-2 17–28–0
Time of possession 31:43 28:17
Team Category Player Statistics
Butler Passing Reagan Andrew 22/36, 189 yards, TD, 2 INT
Rushing Reagan Andrew 15 carries, 75 yards, TD
Receiving Ethan Loss 8 receptions, 81 yards
Northern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 15/25, 214 yards, 4 TD
Rushing Harrison Bey-Buie 12 carries, 81 yards, TD
Receiving Tysen Kershaw 2 receptions, 65 yards, TD

at Wyoming (FBS)

See also: 2025 Wyoming Cowboys football team
Northern Iowa Panthers (1–0) at Wyoming Cowboys (FBS) (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 7 007
Cowboys (FBS) 7 10 7731

at War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY

  • Date: September 6, 2025
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game attendance: 25,009
  • Referee: Cal McNeil
  • TV announcers (Altitude 2): Nate Kreckman and Jared Petrino
Game information
First quarter
  • WYO – Sam Scott 18-yard run (Erik Sandvik kick), 3:26. Cowboys 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 78 yards, 2:05.
Second quarter
  • UNI – Harrison Bey-Buie 2-yard run (Max Bartachek kick), 7:25. Tied 7–7. Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 6:34.
  • WYO – John Michael Gyllenborg 6-yard pass from Kaden Anderson (Erik Sandvik kick), 1:13. Cowboys 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 3:30.
  • WYO – Erik Sandvik 40-yard field goal, 0:00. Cowboys 17–7. Drive: 3 plays, 12 yards, 0:26.
Third quarter
  • WYO – Chris Durr Jr. 21-yard pass from Kaden Anderson (Erik Sandvik kick), 6:03. Cowboys 24–7. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:31.
Fourth quarter
  • WYO – Samuel Harris 18-yard run (Erik Sandvik kick), 7:12. Cowboys 31–7. Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 2:44.
Statistics UNI WYO
First downs 13 25
Total yards 170 379
Rushes–yards 29–59 37–189
Passing yards 111 190
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–29–2 20–26–0
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 30:41 29:19
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 15/26, 107 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Christian Collins 4 carries, 22 yards
Receiving Tysen Kershaw 6 receptions, 41 yards
Wyoming Passing Kaden Anderson 17/23, 167 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Terron Kellman 7 carries, 87 yards
Receiving John Michael Gyllenborg 5 receptions, 65 yards, TD

Eastern Washington

See also: 2025 Eastern Washington Eagles football team
Eastern Washington Eagles (0–2) at Northern Iowa Panthers (1–1) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Eagles - - --0
Panthers - - --0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 4:00 PM CDT
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brad Wells (play-by-play) and Justin Surrency (analyst)
Statistics EWU UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Eastern Washington Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Utah Tech

See also: 2025 Utah Tech Trailblazers football team
Northern Iowa Panthers (2–1) vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers (0–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers - - --0
Trailblazers - - --0

at Greater Zion Stadium, St. George, UT

  • Date: September 20
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Rod Zundel (play-by-play) and Max Christensen III (analyst)
Statistics UNI UTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Utah Tech Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 15 North Dakota

See also: 2025 North Dakota Fighting Hawks football team
No. 15 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (2–2) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (2–2) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 15 Fighting Hawks 7 7 14735
Panthers 0 0 077

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 4:00 PM
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brad Wells (play-by-play) and Justin Surrency (analyst)
Statistics UND UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
North Dakota Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 2 South Dakota State

See also: 2025 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team
Northern Iowa Panthers (2–3) vs. No. 2 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (5–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 3 003
No. 2 Jackrabbits 7 7 71031

at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, Brookings, SD

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: S at 15 miles per hour (24 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 19,342
  • Referee: Tyler Downs
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Tyler Merriam (play-by-play) and Kurtiss Riggs (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • (4:31) SDST – Chase Mason 2-yard run, Eli Stader kick (Drive: 7 plays, 37 yards, 3:11; South Dakota State 7-0)
Second Quarter
  • (4:23) UNI – Max Bartachek 30-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 7:24; South Dakota State 7-3)
  • (2:02) SDST – Chase Mason 2-yard run, Eli Stader kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:21; South Dakota State 14-3)
Third Quarter
  • (1:14) SDST – Greyton Gannon 22-yard pass from Chase Mason, Eli Stader kick (Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 3:04; South Dakota State 21-3)
Fourth Quarter
  • (11:06) SDST – Andrew Gustad 11-yard pass from Chase Mason, Eli Stader kick (Drive: 6 plays, 49 yards, 2:29; South Dakota State 28-3)
  • (3:58) SDST – Eli Stader 30-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 72 yards, 4:57; South Dakota State 31-3)
Statistics UNI SDST
First downs 14 24
Total yards 221 382
Rushing yards 78 120
Passing yards 143 262
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14-27-4 20-33-0
Time of possession 28:01 31:59
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Iowa Passing Matthew Shecklman 12/20, 125 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Bill Jackson 10 carries, 29 yards
Receiving Tysen Kershaw 2 receptions, 48 yards
South Dakota State Passing Chase Mason 19/31, 251 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Julius Loughridge 19 carries, 76 yards
Receiving Alex Bullock 5 receptions, 82 yards

No. 22 South Dakota

See also: 2025 South Dakota Coyotes football team
No. 22 South Dakota Coyotes (4–3) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (2–4) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 22 Coyotes - - --0
Panthers - - --0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brad Wells (play-by-play) and Justin Surrency (analyst)
Statistics SDAK UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
South Dakota Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 16 Southern Illinois

See also: 2025 Southern Illinois Salukis football team
Northern Iowa Panthers (2–5) vs. No. 16 Southern Illinois Salukis (4–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers - - --0
No. 16 Salukis - - --0

at Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
Statistics UNI SIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Southern Illinois Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 17 Illinois State

See also: 2025 Illinois State Redbirds football team
Northern Iowa Panthers (2–6) vs. No. 17 Illinois State Redbirds (5–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers - - --0
No. 17 Redbirds - - --0

at Hancock Stadium, Normal, IL

  • Date: November 1
  • Game time: 2:00 PM
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics UNI ILST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Illinois State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Murray State

See also: 2025 Murray State Racers football team
Murray State Racers (0–9) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (2–7) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Racers - - --0
Panthers - - --0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
Statistics MUR UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Murray State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 1 North Dakota State

See also: 2025 North Dakota State Bison football team
Northern Iowa Panthers (3–7) vs. No. 1 North Dakota State Bison (10–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers - - --0
No. 1 Bison - - --0

at Fargodome, Fargo, ND

  • Date: November 15
  • Game time: 2:30 PM
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics UNI NDSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving
North Dakota State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

No. 18 Youngstown State

See also: 2025 Youngstown State Penguins football team
No. 18 Youngstown State Penguins (7–4) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (3–8) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 18 Penguins - - --0
Panthers - - --0

at UNI-Dome, Cedar Falls, IA

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 1:00 PM
  • Game weather: Indoors; 70 °F (21 °C)
Statistics YSU UNI
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Youngstown State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern Iowa Passing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. ^ "Todd Stepsis named University of Northern Iowa head coach". unipanthers.com. Northern Iowa Panthers. December 3, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  2. ^ "UNI Football head coach Mark Farley to retire at conclusion of 2024 season". unipanthers.com. Northern Iowa Panthers. November 10, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  3. ^ "Northern Iowa Panthers Schedule 2025". ESPN. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  4. ^ "2025 Football Schedule". University of Northern Iowa. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "Missouri Valley Football Announces predicted order of finish". valley-football.org. Missouri Valley Football Conference. July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
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