Opponent Insight: Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa Panthers (Record: 3-3, 2-1 in MVFC)
The Series: It will be the 54th overall meeting between the Jackrabbits and the Panthers, playing twice in 2017 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium - the first time was a regular season loss, 38-18, on Oct. 14 (Hobo Day) and the last time was a 37-22 win in second round of the FCS Playoffs (first meeting in the playoffs). Overall, UNI leads the series 30-21-2 (In Brookings: 11-11, In Cedar Falls: UNI - 19-10) dating back to the first game in Cedar Falls in 1935 (UNI won, 22-13). The series was consistent from 1935 to 1979, but took a 26-year break from 1980 to 2005 before returning the annual match-up in 2006. Since 2006, UNI has won eight of the 13 matchups, but SDSU has a 4-2 record (2-0 in Cedar Falls) since the double-overtime victory in Brookings during the 2013 season. This weekend will be UNI's Homecoming game - in the lone Homecoming game they hosted SDSU, they won 27-6 in 2012. However, UNI is 2-1 when they come to play SDSU on Hobo Day (UNI won in 2017, 2015 and lost in 2009).

South Dakota State vs. Northern Iowa since 2006 (played every year since 2006):

Date	Location	Result
2017 (Playoffs)	Brookings	W, 37-22
2017 (Hobo)	Brookings	L, 38-18
2016	Cedar Falls	W, 45-24
2015 (Hobo)	Brookings	L, 10-7
2014	Cedar Falls	W, 31-28
2013	Brookings	W, 37-34 (2OT)
2012 (HoCo)	Cedar Falls	L, 27-6
2011	Brookings	L, 31-14
2010	Cedar Falls	L, 24-14
2009 (Hobo)	Brookings	W, 24-14
2008	Cedar Falls	L, 34-20
2007	Brookings	L, 31-17
2006	Cedar Falls	L, 27-17

UNI has outscored SDSU in the all-time series 1,149-908 (average: 21.7-17.1) and outscore the Jacks 344-287 since 2006 (average: 26.5-22.1). In all of the wins since 2006, the Jackrabbits had scored more than 20 points and lost every time when scoring 20 points or less. In the last 13 meetings, the winner has won by 10 points or more in 10 games, with the last three matchups decided by more than 14 points.

Jackrabbit QB Taryn Christion is 2-2 (1-0 at UNI) vs. the Panthers. 2017 vs. UNI (Playoffs) (W, 37-22: 19-28 for 237 yards and three TDs with one INT, seven carries for 38 yards and one TD rushing), 2017 vs. UNI (L, 38-18: 14-35 for 280 yards and two TDs with one INT, seven carries for -2 yards rushing), 2016 at UNI (W, 45-24: 21-27 for 272 yards and two TDs passing, nine carries for 25 yards and a TD, one catch from Wieneke for a 16-yard TD), 2015 vs. UNI (L, 10-7: 15-20 for 156 yards and one TD passing, 16 carries for 61 yards).

2017 Review (From UNI): The Panthers were tasked with a tough slate to begin the 2017 season, playing only one game at home in the month of September, with road contests against Liberty Bowl-champion Iowa State and Big Sky-champion Southern Utah on the schedule.

UNI found a way to earn two wins during that span, but faced a murderers' row of top 10 foes in the second half of the season. With a 2-3 record, the Panthers had the task of kicking off their top-10 gauntlet against No. 7 South Dakota State on the road. Those odds didn't shake the resolve of the 2017 Panthers however, as UNI rattled off a 5-1 record down the stretch, including three victories over Top-10 opponents.

The incredible late-season run secured the football program's 19th postseason berth, as UNI finished second overall in the MVFC. The Panthers hosted a challenging 9-2 Monmouth squad in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs, which UNI dismantled 46-7 at home. The second round paired UNI with fellow MVFC-foe SDSU, who owned a national seed. The Panthers fell to the 10-2 Jackrabbits, who went on to earn a semifinal appearance to close out the year.

The fight and never-quit attitude of the 2017 Panthers was a direct result of the leadership on the team, which will be remembered as one of the most tenacious groups to ever wear the Purple & Gold. The mixture of experience and talent was a perfect formula for the 2017 squad, which posted a spectacular senior class and overall resume.

Offense: The offense has scored 187 point this season (31.2 PPG) and totaled 2,215 yards (5.1 per play, 369.2 per game) ... has 772 rushing yards and eight TDs on the ground (3.3 yards per carry, 128.7 per game) ... have 122 completions on 203 attempts (60.1%) and thrown 13 TDs and three INTs (7.11 yards per pass, 11.83 yards per catch, 240.5 yards per game) ... they have picked up 127 first downs (45 rushing, 73 passing, nine by penalty) while averaging 30:04 time of possession ... 38-90 on third down (42.2%) and 6-10 on fourth down (60%) ... the offense has given up 12 sacks (two per games) and scored on all 22 redzone attempts (16 TDs - 72.7%) ... have score by quarter (First: 27, Second: 47, Third: 56, Fourth: 57) - out scoring teams in the second half 113-67

Defense: Opponents have scored 148 points (24.7 PPG) and totaled 2,280 yards (5.5 per play, 380.0 per game) ... have rushed for 965 yards and nine TDs (4.0 per carry, 160.8 per game) and thrown 113-176 (64.2%) for 1,315 (7.5 per pass, 11.6 per catch, 219.2 per game) and 10 TDs while getting picked off eight times ... teams are 34-88 (39%) on third down and 4-10 (40%) on fourth down ... the Panthers have sacked opponents 10 times and given up 19 TDs ... the defense has allowed 22 redzone trips and 18 scores (82%) while allowing 14 TDs (64%) ... opponents score by quarter (First: 33, Second: 48, Third: 32, Fourth: 35)

Panthers' Players to Watch
OFFENSE
QB Eli Dunne (#14, SR, 6-5, 238): Started in five of the six games to start the season, being benched at Montana and playing in the second half at Iowa (back-up QB Colton Howell played at Montana rallying 23 points in the second half to lose 26-23 and started at Iowa) ... is 106-169 (62.7%) for 1,252 yards (208.7 per game) and 12 TDs (six in two home games) and only thrown two interceptions ... has thrown for 619 yards, seven TDs and one interception in the last two games (NDSU, USD) ... has one rushing TD while having -20 net rushing yards on 22 carries ... through a season-best 362 yards vs. NDSU and a season-high four passing TDs at USD ... was 13-22 for 169 yards and two TDs in 2017 regular season game at SDSU ... was 26-31 for 287 with one TD and INT in playoff game at SDSU.

RB Trevor Allen (#25, JR, 5-10, 203): Leads the team in rushing attempts (88), yards (397) and yards per carry and per game (4.5, 66.2) and has the longest rush of the season - a 49-yard TD vs. Hampton ... only two players have more than 25 rushing attempts and more than 50 yards rushing ... one of four players with one TD and one of two players with multiple TDs (tied for the most with three with Weymiller) ... third on the team in receptions (19) and yards (193) receiving ... has yet to catch a receiving TD ... averages 10.2 yards per catch ... had a season-best 180 yard rushing at Indiana State while rushing for no more than 56 yards in the other games ... two of his rushing TDs came at Indiana State and has recorded three-plus receptions in every game but the season opener ... had 13 carries for 44 yards and one catch for six yard sin the 2017 regular season game at SDSU ... had four carries for 27 yards and two catches for 24 yards at SDSU in the playoffs.

RB Marcus Weymiller (#8, SR, 5-10, 204): Second on the team in rushing attempts (83) and yards (301) while being one of two players with multiple TDs (three) and only one of four players with a rush TD ... has 3.6 yards per carry (50.2 yards per game) ... has six catches on the season, with one of them being a TD at South Dakota last week ... has rushed for less than 40 yards three times and more than 55 yards the other three times ... has a high of 90 yards at Indiana State and scored a TD - rushing or receiving - in four of the six games ... recorded 42 carries for 170 yards and two TDs in the 2017 regular season matchup at SDSU ... had 13 carries for 59 yards and four catches for 39 yards at SDSU during the 2017 playoffs.

WR Nick Fossey (#82, R-SO, 6-1, 199): Fifth on the team with receptions (14) and sixth for receiving yards (144) but is tied for the most TD receptions (3) ... has recorded seven catches for 60 yards and one TD in the last two games.

WR Jaylin James (#83, JR, 6-3, 202): Fourth on the team in receptions (15) and receiving yards (156) while recording two TDs in back-to-back games (NDSU, USD) ... averages 10.4 yards per catch (26 yards per game) ... has eight catches for 94 yards and two TDs in the last two games with a long of 224 and 14 yards ... had one catch for seven yards in the 2017 regular season game at SDSU and four catches for 30 yards in the playoff game.

WR Deion McShane (#4, FR, 5-9, 155): Second on the team in receptions (22) and yards (290) and the tied for the second-most TDs (2) as a true freshman ... averages 13.2 yards per catch (48.3 yards per game) and a season-high seven receptions and 117 yards vs. Hampton ... had five receptions vs. NDSU for 52 yards and three more for 35 yards at South Dakota.

TE Briley Moore (#86, JR, 6-3, 242): Leads the team in receptions (23) and receiving yards (317) while tied for the most TDs (3) so far ... averages 13.8 yards per catch (52.8 yards per game) while having a long of 64 yards ... has caught five passes in three games, three passes in two games and two passes once ... has more than 50 yards receiving and one TD in three games ... had a season-high 96 yards vs. NDSU ... had one catch for 10 yards at SDSU in the 2017 regular season game and six catches for 90 yards in the 2017 playoff matchup.

DEFENSE
LB Duncan Ferch (#39, SR, 6-1, 234): Second on the team in tackles (55) while recording 16 solo tackles and 2.5 TFLs ... tied with two other players for the most INTs (2) and leads the team in pass breakups while having two QB hurries ... has recorded double-digit tackles in three games - with a season-high 15 vs. NDSU, and recorded seven in two other games ... had one TFL vs. NDSU and 1.5 at Iowa while also picking off a Hawkeye pass ... his other INT was at Indiana State where he returned it for 19 yards and had three pass breakups last week at USD ... had two tackles in the 2017 regular season game at SDSU and a team-high 12 (1.5 TFLs) in the playoff game.

LB Chris Kolarevic (#48, R-FR, 6-0, 223): Leads the team in tackles (65), including solo (25) ... has recorded three TFLs while picking off a pass vs. Hampton ... has recorded double-digit tackles in every game but one - the blowout win vs. Hampton, and has a season-high of 15 tackles at Iowa ... recorded eight solo tackles with one TFL last week at USD ... has four pass breakups - two in one game at Indiana State ... did not play in 2017 games at SDSU.

LB Rickey Neal (#7, SR, 6-1, 241): Leads the team with 4.5 sacks and 7.5 TFLs on the year ... is sixth in tackles (25) and has broken up two passes and added five QB hurries ... forced a team-high two fumbles ... had a season-high seven tackles to open the season and has had 3.5 sacks in the last three games, including two at USD (forced a fumble too) ... had three tackles, two TFLs, and one sack at the 2017 regular season game vs. SDSU and five tackles (0.5 TFLs) and a forced fumble/fumble recovery in the playoff game.

DB A.J. Allen (#23, SR, 6-0, 215): Tied for third on team in tackles (38) while tied with two other players for the most INTs (2) and second-most pass breakups (4) ... has had 10 tackles at Iowa and eight vs. NDSU while notching a INT in back-to-back games (Iowa, Hampton) ... also had two pass breakups vs. Hampton ... had four tackles in the 2017 regular season matchup at SDSU and none in the playoff game.

DB Korby Sander (#5, R-SO, 6-0, 212): Tied for third on team in tackles (38) while having 15 solo knocks ... has had 10 tackles in two games and seven in another two ... has 24 tackles in the last three games, including 10 against NDSU.

DB Xavior Williams (#9, R-SO, 6-1, 185): Fifth on the team in tackles (26) while tied for the lead with two others for INTs (2) ... notched a TFL and two pass breakups so far ... notched a TFL and INT in the game at USD while recording a season-high seven tackles at Montana and six vs. NDSU ... had three tackles in the regular season matchup and four tackles in the playoff matchup at SDSU in 2017.

Game-by-Game Recap (From UNI, 3-3, MVFC: 2-1):
Oct. 13 at South Dakota (W, 42-28): The UNI football team turned three turnovers into touchdowns to earn a big 42-28 road win over No. 24 South Dakota at the DakotaDome in Vermillion.

The game was a back-and-forth battle for most of the first half. UNI scored to take a 14-13 lead with just 58 seconds remaining in the second quarter on a pass to RB Marcus Weymiller. On the ensuing kickoff, USD fumbled the ball and UNI returned to the USD 4-yard line. The Panthers scored on a QB Eli Dunne sneak to give UNI a 21-13 lead at the half.

USD tied the game at 21 late in the third quarter before the Panthers responded with a touchdown pass from Dunne to TE Briley Moore with 42 seconds left to play in the third.

Early in the fourth quarter, DB Xavior Williams picked off USD at the Coyote 25-yard line. On the next play, Dunne found WR Nick Fossey on the far side of the end zone to put UNI up 35-21.

On the next possession, DL Elerson G. Smith forced a sack fumble and DL Brawntae Wells recovered it in the endzone to put the Panthers up 42-21.

Dunne went 23-32 for 253 yards and four touchdowns, completing it to eight different receivers. Moore, Fossey, and Weymiller all caught receiving touchdowns while Dunne picked up the only rushing score.

The defense allowed 366 yards but was on the field for 87 plays after forcing the three turnovers, which turned into quick UNI scores. USD only gained 38 rush yards in the game - including five sacks that accounted for -25 yards.

Oct. 6 vs. North Dakota State (L, 56-31): The No. 22 UNI Panthers racked up 466 yards of offense, including 362 yards in the air, but it wasn't enough as No. 1 North Dakota State pulled off a 56-31 come-from-behind win in the UNI-Dome.

The Panthers took a 14-0 lead after scoring on the first two drives of the game, but NDSU rallied back and tied the game at 14 with 12:55 to play in the second quarter after an interception that gave NDSU a short field. The two teams traded scores, but UNI entered the half with a 24-21 lead after a 32-yard field goal from K Austin Errthum as time expired.

NDSU took its first lead with 8:50 to play in the third quarter, but the Panthers regained the advantage on a 26-yard touchdown to WR Deion McShane as time expired in the third quarter. UNI entered the fourth with a 31-28 lead, but it wouldn't last long.

NDSU scored from the first play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter on a 75-yard touchdown pass. UNI could not muster a response and NDSU scored three more times as the Panthers gave the Bison short fields with turnovers on downs.

The Panthers put up more points on the Bison than any team this season and the most since Nov. 4, 2017, when NDSU lost to South Dakota State 33-21 in Brookings.

The UNI offense shined against one of the toughest defenses in the FCS. QB Eli Dunne was 27-41 for 362 yards and three touchdowns, his best performance of the season. Eight receivers caught passes for UNI, and seven caught the ball three or more times. WR Jaylin James, McShane and TE Briley Moore all scored for the Panthers, with Moore leading the way on three catches for 96 yards. RB Marcus Weymiller led the rushing attack with 14 carries for 57 hard-fought yards.

Defensively, LB Duncan Ferch led the way with 12 tackles, LB Chris Kolarevic continued his productive redshirt freshman season with 11 tackles and DB Korby Sander ended with 10.

Sept. 27 at Indiana State (W, 33-0): RB Trevor Allen rushed for a career-high 180 yards and two touchdowns and the Panther defense notched its second consecutive shutout UNI picked up the 33-0 win over Indiana State in Terre Haute.

UNI established the run early but didn't find the end zone in the first half. Instead, K Austin Errthum hit 3-4 field goals to give the Panthers a 9-0 lead at the break. Early in the second half, Allen found the end zone with just under 12 minutes to play in the third on an 18-yard run, trucking through a defender at the goal line. He found the end zone again with 4:58 left in the third on a 16-yard run to cap an eight-play 90-yard drive.

Errthum hit another field goal in the fourth quarter to put the Panthers up 26-0, but that would not be it for UNI. The Panther defense decided to get into the action when LB Duncan Ferch intercepted an ISU pass and returned it 19 yards for the third pick-six of his career.

Along with Allen's big day, RB Marcus Weymiller also ran for 90 yards to help tally 265 team rushing yards. It was the first time UNI has rushed for more than 200 yards since the 2017 playoff game against Monmouth. QB Eli Dunne was 16-24 for 218 yards - throwing to four different receivers, led by TE Briley Moore with five catches for 61 yards and WR Jalen Rima who caught three passes for 48 yards.

The Panthers racked up 483 total yards. The Panther defense held Indiana State to 294 offensive yards and forced ISU into just the second turnover of the season. The Panthers also held the Sycamores out of the end zone for the first time this season. It was UNI's second-consecutive shutout this season, the first time since 2008. UNI had outscored opponenst 43-0 in the fourth quarter and 85-17 in the second half at that point in the season and outscored the last two opponents 77-0 and not allowed a point in nine consecutive quarters.

Sept. 22 vs. Hampton (W, 44-0): The UNI offense dominated from the first possession and the Panther defense followed suit, snagging five turnovers and en route to the first shutout since the 2015 season in a 44-0 win over Hampton (Va.) in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers racked up 414 yards of offense and five touchdowns, with three coming through the air and two on the ground.

There were a plethora of exciting plays Saturday, but the 49-yard touchdown run in the second quarter by RB Trevor Allen was the moment when the wind went out of the sails of the Pirates. The play developed slowly as Allen picked his way through the line until a hole opened up and went through it untouched.

QB Eli Dunne was efficient - going 12-23 for 191 and three touchdowns. RB Marcus Weymiller and RB Trevor Allen each had rushing touchdowns, including a 49-yard score from Allen in the second quarter.

WR Deion McShane had a breakout game, tallying 117 yards on seven catches - including a 12-yard circus catch in the end zone that gave UNI a 41-0 lead with 4:10 to play in the third quarter.

TE Elias Nissen got the scoring going in the first quarter with a 12-yard touchdown catch and Nick Fossey scored on a 19-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

Defensively, three DBs and one LB all tallied interceptions. UNI picked up one fumble recovery to give the Panthers the ball with under a minute to play.

Sept. 15 at Iowa (L, 38-14): UNI offense struggled to find a rhythm in the first half while big plays by the Panther defense were not enough to ebb the tide of the Iowa offense as the Hawkeyes built a 38-0 lead en route to a 38-14 win over the Panthers at Kinnick Stadium.

UNI held Iowa to a single touchdown in the first quarter, but the offense couldn't find a footing with QB Colton Howell getting the start, racking up 16 yards of offense in the first quarter and four in the second quarter.

The UNI defense battled, picking up a pair of sacks in the first half, both from DT Jared Brinkman. DB A.J. Allen also picked up an interception as Iowa was driving with 29 seconds to play in the first half. Iowa went into the locker room with a 21-0 lead and picked up right where they left off when they took the ball to start the second half.

The Hawkeyes added 17 more points in the third quarter before the Panthers found an offensive groove in the fourth. QB Eli Dunne, who came in during the second half and went 18-28 for 200 along with two touchdowns, led a 14-play 75-yard drive to start the fourth quarter, capped by a four-yard touchdown pass to TE Briley Moore - who made a tough catch in the back of the end zone.

LB Duncan Ferch picked off a pass from Iowa's QB Peyton Mansell with 7:39 left. The interception led to a five-yard touchdown pass from Dunne to TE Elias Nissen in the back of the end zone for the score.

Sept. 1 at Montana (L, 26-23): The 13th-ranked UNI Panther football team rallied back after No. 24 Montana built a 26-0 halftime lead, eventually falling 26-23 in a season-opening loss on the road. The Montana defense stifled the UNI early, holding the Panthers to 47 yards in the first half. The Montana offense capitalized on Panther mistakes and racked up 283 yards and 26 points in the first half.

The second half was all UNI. Backup QB Colton Howell sparked the comeback starting with his feet. He scampered for 30 yards in the middle of the third quarter. Later in the drive, he found RB Trevor Allen who scampered 22 yards for the first down at the 3-yard line. Howell closed the drive with a dive into the end zone from the just a foot out to cut the Montana lead to 26-7 with 1:47 to play in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, RB Marcus Weymiller capped off a drive with a 1-yard touchdown and went in untouched on the two-point conversion to cut the Montana lead to 26-15 with 11:43 to play in the game. With 3:14 remaining, Howell found WR Nick Fossey in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown and then hit TE Briley Moore for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to a field goal, 26-23.

The Panthers elected to kick the ball deep and lean on the defense. The Panther defense held on first and second down, but on third, Montana quarterback Dalton Snead found Samori Toure for the first down to close the game out.

After Montana's big first half, it was the Panthers who closed the game with 22 first downs to 19 for the Grizzlies. UM tallied 348 total yards to just 268 for UNI, but only notched 65 total yards in the second half.

Howell finished the game 11-22 for 140 yards and a touchdown while Moore led all receivers with five catches for 78 yards. Fossey had two catches for 26, including the touchdown and Allen led the rushing attack with 50 yards.

-GoJacks.com-

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Taryn Christion

Upcoming Event: Football at Montana on December 6, 2025 at noon MT/1 p.m. CT

Completed Event: Football versus New Hampshire on November 29, 2025 , Win , 41, to, 3

Completed Event: Football at North Dakota on November 22, 2025 , Win , 34, to, 31 , OT

Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on November 15, 2025 , Loss , 21, to, 35

Completed Event: Football at South Dakota on November 8, 2025 , Loss , 17, to, 24

Completed Event: Football versus Indiana State on November 1, 2025 , Loss , 12, to, 24

Completed Event: Football versus North Dakota State on October 25, 2025 , Loss , 7, to, 38

South Dakota State University Athletics