University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
North Dakota
UNI football: Panthers open MVFC play on Homecoming weekend against North Dakota
10/1/2025 2:50:00 PM | Football
UNI Panther football hosts #15/14 North Dakota to open conference play.
UNI Panthers (2-2 / 0-0 MVFC) vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks (2-2 / 0-0 MVFC)
- 4 p.m. CT | October 4, 2025
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | UNI-Dome (12,200)
- ESPN+ (Brad Wells: Play-by-Play, Justin Surrency: Analyst)
- Panther Sports Radio Network | (J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play / Scott Peterson: Analyst)
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Panthers open the 2025 conference slate with a Homecoming matchup against North Dakota. The Panthers are 26-15 all-time against the Fighting Hawks, including a 16-6 record at home. UNI and North Dakota have only played one game as MVFC opponents inside the UNI-Dome, a 27-0 shutout of the No. 9-ranked Fighting Hawks in 2023. The teams have played four games in the UNI-Dome, with three of them falling the way of the Cats. The last time these teams met, the Panthers recorded the program's first shutout of a top-10 team, finishing 27-0 against No. 9 UND. Amauri Pesek-Hickson rushed for 180 yards in his Panther offensive debut.
UNI wrapped up the non-conference portion of its 2025 schedule on Saturday, September 20, at Utah Tech. The Panthers dropped to 2-2 on the 2025 season after a 20-9 loss to Utah Tech. The offense struggled to get going as the Panthers recorded just 11 first downs, their least of the season. Matthew Schecklman finished with 18 completions and 160 passing yards on 31 attempts. The rushing offense finished with just 47 yards, another season-low for the Cats, with Bill Jackson leading the way with 36. Ayden Price led the receiver room with 49 yards on two receptions, including one for 45 yards.
Owen Ostroski hauled in the first interception of his career and returned it for 19 yards, the longest Panther interception return since a 30-yard return at Hawaii last season.
In the first four matchups, the Panthers have not allowed a point on an opponent's first drive of the game. The first drives of the first four matchups have seen three punts and a missed field goal (at Wyoming). On offense, the Panthers have scored on one opening drive this season, a 79-yard touchdown on the first UNI play of the matchup against Eastern Washington.
UNI is looking to stay perfect in the UNI-Dome in 2025 after winning both of its non-conference tests at home so far this season. The last time the Panthers opened the season 3-0 inside the Dome, UNI went on to finish that season a perfect 7-0 inside at home and made it to the FCS Quarterfinals in 2019.
The Panther team sits amongst the top-25 in FCS football in a number of statistical categories after the non-conference slate including kickoff return defense (19th - 15.88), fewest passing yards allowed (18th - 161.8), scoring defense (20th - 19.8), fewest TFLs allowed (16th - 4.00), team passing efficiency defense (21st - 114.75), and time of possession (19th - 32:27). The Panther red zone defense in second in the MVFC, only allowing points on 76.9% of opposing red zone trips. The Cats are third in the conference in kickoff return defense, fewest passing yards allowed, team passing efficiency defense, and time of possession.
Individually, Ayden Price is sixth in the nation and first in the Valley with 23.22 yards per reception. The deep-ball threat is eighth in the league with two receiving touchdowns, 11th with 209 receiving yards, and 52.3 receiving yards per game, and 12th with 63 combined kick return yards. Jonathan Cabral-Martin continues to be a force in the secondary and is 10th in the nation with 1.5 passes defended per game. That mark is second in the MVFC. Cabral-Martin is fourth in the Valley with 0.25 forced fumbles per game and ninth in the league with 0.25 interceptions per game. Jack Kriebs and Ethan Schoville are tied with Cabral-Martin with a quarter forced fumble per game, while Joe Hall III and Owen Ostroski are tied for ninth with a quarter pick per game. Ryan Crandall is 15th in the nation with 5.5 solo tackles per game, the second-best mark in the Valley. The redshirt-senior linebacker is fourth in the league with 9.0 total tackles per game. Max Bartachek is tied for first in the Valley with an 83.3% field goal percentage after a perfect 3-for-3 performance at Utah Tech. The junior is third in the MVFC with 1.25 field goals per game. Owen Ostroski leads the conference with 0.75 sacks per game. The defensive lineman is also sixth in TFLs with 1.0 per game.
The Panthers return 100% of quarterback play from the 2024 season. Matthew Schecklman and Aidan Dunne return to the Panther squad for another season following a year that saw 2,231 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns with a 61% completion percentage. 35% of UNI's wide receiver production is back in 2025. The Panthers return 65 receptions for 772 yards and four touchdowns from last season. Just 4% of running back production returns in 2025 after losing Tye Edwards and Amauri Pesek-Hickson from the 2024 roster. Harrison Bey-Buie returns to UNI after a season that saw him appear in just two games due to injury, recording 17 carries for 74 yards.Â
The Panthers bring in transfer Bill Jackson from Tulsa in the backfield. With the Golden Hurricanes, Jackson appeared in 10 games, totaling 319 rushing yards and 104 receiving yards, and scored two receiving touchdowns in 2024. The redshirt-senior appeared in a total of 33 games at Tulsa, totaling 919 rushing yards and one touchdown on 189 carries and 156 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 28 receptions. UNI also welcomes Owen Ostroski to the defensive line from Tulsa. In 2024, Ostroski appeared in 12 games and totaled 36 tackles (14 solo, 22 assist) and recorded 8.5 TFL for 43 yards, including two sacks for 17 yards. In his time at Tulsa, the redshirt-senior played in 35 games and totaled 91 tackles, including 22 for loss. The lineman had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery with the Golden Hurricanes.
The 2025 Panther roster includes nine new coaches to the Panther program, including head coach Todd Stepsis. On top of the coaching staff, the roster includes 33 true freshmen and 11 transfers that will be new to UNI in 2025.
The 2025 roster of 118 players includes 70 athletes from the great state of Iowa. Of these 70, 21 are true freshmen, including a trio from across the street at Cedar Falls High School. Of the 118 athletes on the roster, 97 call either Iowa or its six bordering states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska or South Dakota) home.
The UNI Football team currently has six alumni on active professional rosters including Elijah Campbell (Safety - Miami Dolphins), Spencer Brown (Offensive Lineman - Buffalo Bills), Khristian Boyd (Defensive Lineman - New Orleans Saints), and Trevor Penning (Offensive Lineman - New Orleans Saints) on NFL rosters and Jared Brinkman (Defensive Lineman - Edmonton Elks) and Benny Sapp III (Cornerback - Saskatchewan Roughriders) on CFL rosters.
Fans with a football ticket will receive free entry to the UNI volleyball game against Murray State at 1 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center on October 4. Fans with a volleyball ticket will NOT be able to redeem those for a football ticket. UNI-Athletics has a no re-entry policy in place for athletics events. Once a fan scans their ticket into an event, they can no longer leave and re-enter the game.
UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
