Panthers Open 2021 Season With No. 5 SDSU

For the first time in 434 days, UNI Football will take the field to play. The Panthers host South Dakota State in a meeting of top-five teams. It is the sixth meeting of the two teams since 2017. UNI came from behind to beat South Dakota State 13-10 in the second round of the 2019 FCS playoffs. The Panthers fell in the next round of the playoffs to eventual runner-up James Madison.

• UNI is coming off of its fifth playoff appearance in six seasons. The Panthers won 10 games for the first time since 2011 and returned to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 2015. UNI finished second in the Valley.

• Six Panthers earned Preseason All-MVFC honors. Will McElvain, Isaiah Weston, Jared Brinkman, Omar Brown, Bryce Flater and Matthew Cook earned honors. Weston Brinkman and Brown earned Athlon Spring Preseason All-American honors and Weston and Brinkman earned HERO Sports Spring Preseason All-American Honors. Hero Sports also named Brinkman and Weston the best returning players in the MVFC at their position.

• Mark Farley is the winningest coach in UNI and Missouri Valley Football History and the 10th coach in FCS history with 150 FCS victories. The win against Western Illinois in the 2019 regular-season finale was his 99th Missouri Valley Football/Gateway Conference win.

• UNI finished 2019 7th in the FCS in total defense, 9th in scoring defense, 30th in tackles for loss and 16th in sacks. The Panthers held 11 opponents to 14 or fewer points in regulation.

• The Panthers and the rest of the Valley are scheduled to play eight regular-season games. UNI hosts four teams, three of the opponents that make their way to the UNI-Dome, SDSU, NDSU and Illinois State, are ranked in the top-10 in the FCS STATS Preseason Poll.

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Panthers Open 2021 Season With No. 5 SDSU

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Players Mentioned

Jared Brinkman

Omar Brown

Matthew Cook

Bryce Flater

Will McElvain

Isaiah Weston

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