University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panther football announces 2026 conference schedule
2/20/2026 9:59:00 AM | Football
UNI football opens the 2026 conference season on September 26 inside the UNI-Dome.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The Missouri Valley Conference (MVFC) released its 2026 conference schedule on Friday morning. All nine MVFC teams will play eight league games over a nine-week period this fall. MVFC teams will play four league home games and four league road games. All teams will play every other team in the Conference in a true round robin.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference slate opens on September 26 as UNI hosts reigning FCS National Championship Runners-Up Illinois State for Family Weekend. UNI currently holds a 24-16 advantage in the all-time series, but is looking for its first victory over the Redbirds since 2023. The Cats hold a 14-4 record inside the UNI-Dome against Illinois State. The Panthers follow up this matchup with their bye week before hosting North Dakota on October 10 for their annual Homecoming game. This will be the second straight season, and third of the last four, the Panthers will face the Fighting Hawks on Homecoming Weekend after last season's matchup inside the UNI-Dome. The Panthers are 3-2 all-time inside the UNI-Dome against North Dakota.
UNI heads to Youngstown, Ohio, for its first MVFC road trip of the 2026 season to take on the Youngstown State Penguins on October 17. UNI is looking to avenge a 39-38 overtime loss to Youngstown State the last time the Cats played at Stambaugh Stadium in Ohio. The Cats remain on the road the next week as they head to Carbondale, Illinois, for the second-straight season to take on the Southern Illinois Salukis on October 24. UNI is looking for its fifth all-time victory in Carbondale.
NEW UNI FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
The Indiana State Sycamores come to town on October 31 for the fourth time in the last five contests between these two programs. UNI has come away victorious in the last eight meetings and has not lost to Indiana State inside the UNI-Dome since 1988. The Panthers stay home and host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on November 7, their final home matchup of the 2026 season. UNI is looking for its first victory over FCS powerhouse SDSU since 2021 and its first inside the Dome since 2018.
The final two matchups of the season come on the road for UNI as the Cats head to Vermillion, South Dakota, to take on the South Dakota Coyotes on November 14 before wrapping up the regular season on November 21 with their first visit to Murray, Kentucky as a Valley opponent. UNI and Murray State have met one previous time in Kentucky in 1995, before the Racers joined the MVFC in 2023.
2026 UNI FOOTBALL MVFC SCHEDULE (Times TBA)
- Sept 26 vs. Illinois State (Cedar Falls, Iowa / UNI-Dome)
- Oct. 10 vs. North Dakota (Cedar Falls, Iowa / UNI-Dome)
- Oct. 17 at Youngstown State (Youngstown,Ohio / Stambaugh Stadium)
- Oct. 24 at Southern Illinois (Carbondale, Ill. / Saluki Stadium)
- Oct. 31 vs. Indiana State (Cedar Falls, Iowa / UNI-Dome)
- Nov. 7 vs. South Dakota State (Cedar Falls, Iowa / UNI-Dome)
- Nov. 14 at South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D. / DakotaDome)
- Nov. 21 at Murray State (Murray, Ky. / Roy Stewart Stadium)
UNI football action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Football), X (@UNIFootball) and on Instagram (@unipantherfootball). The full 2026 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
