University of Northern Iowa Athletics

UNI football to make 22nd appearance to FCS playoffs
11/21/2021 12:27:00 PM | Football
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – UNI football will be making its 22nd appearance in the FCS Championships when they face No. 5 Eastern Washington on the road.
The game is set for 3 p.m. CT Nov. 27. Fans can watch all the first and second rounds on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on Panther Sports Radio Network News/Talk KXEL 1540 starting at 2 p.m. CT.
Head coach Mark Farley is 2-1 against Eastern Washington. The Panthers are 6-1 overall against the Eagles. This will be the third time UNI has face EWU in the postseason. The meetings in 1985, 1992 and 2005 all ended in victories for UNI.
Montana is the only team with more playoff appearances than UNI with 25.
This is the first time six teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference have been in postseason play, which is the most of any conference this season.
UNI ranks in the top five nationally in six categories. The Panthers are No. 1 in turnovers gained, and Isaiah Weston is atop the list for most yards per reception. Quarterback Theo Day is second in the nation for passing yards per completion. Caden Houghtelling and the team each are No. 3 in the nation for fumbles recovered. Matthew Cook is fourth in the nation for field goal percentage.
Eleven conference champions automatically qualified for this year's playoffs. An additional 13 teams earned at-large bids selected by the FCS Playoff Committee. The top eight seeds receive a bye week.
UNI has been in the semifinals seven times: 1985, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2008.
The FCS Playoffs conclude with the national championship in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
The game is set for 3 p.m. CT Nov. 27. Fans can watch all the first and second rounds on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on Panther Sports Radio Network News/Talk KXEL 1540 starting at 2 p.m. CT.
Head coach Mark Farley is 2-1 against Eastern Washington. The Panthers are 6-1 overall against the Eagles. This will be the third time UNI has face EWU in the postseason. The meetings in 1985, 1992 and 2005 all ended in victories for UNI.
Montana is the only team with more playoff appearances than UNI with 25.
This is the first time six teams from the Missouri Valley Football Conference have been in postseason play, which is the most of any conference this season.
UNI ranks in the top five nationally in six categories. The Panthers are No. 1 in turnovers gained, and Isaiah Weston is atop the list for most yards per reception. Quarterback Theo Day is second in the nation for passing yards per completion. Caden Houghtelling and the team each are No. 3 in the nation for fumbles recovered. Matthew Cook is fourth in the nation for field goal percentage.
Eleven conference champions automatically qualified for this year's playoffs. An additional 13 teams earned at-large bids selected by the FCS Playoff Committee. The top eight seeds receive a bye week.
UNI has been in the semifinals seven times: 1985, 1987, 1992, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2008.
The FCS Playoffs conclude with the national championship in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022.
FULL LIST OF TOP SEEDS AND FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS
#1 SEED: Sam Houston- Stephen F. Austin vs. Incarnate Word
- Southern Illinois vs. South Dakota
- Florida A&M vs. SE Louisiana
- UC Davis vs. South Dakota State
- Sacred Heart vs. Holy Cross
- UNI (6-5) vs. No. 5 Eastern Washington (9-2)
- Davidson vs. Kennesaw State
- UT Martin vs. Missouri State
Players Mentioned
PST: 1975 Football Team - 2025 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame
Friday, December 12
Owen Chandler Press Conference - Dec. 8, 2025.
Wednesday, December 10
PST: 2025 MVFC All-Conference Honors
Friday, December 05
PST: Matt Pedersen - 2025 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee
Friday, December 05







