University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Illinois State
UNI Panther football opens MVFC slate against Illinois State
9/23/2026 2:34:00 PM | Football
Panther football hosts the Redbirds inside the UNI-Dome on family weekend.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI football team opens the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) slate on Saturday, September 26 inside the UNI-Dome against the Illinois State Redbirds, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. CT. The Cats lead 24-16 in the all-time series, but the Redbirds have claimed four of the last five contests. The Panthers are 14-4 at home against Illinois State, including 8-4 since 2000.
In last season's matchup, the No. 17/18 Illinois State Redbirds won in Normal, Illinois, by a 31-16 final. In that game, Jaxon Dailey was 15-for-23 passing for 142 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Panther rushing attack with 40 rushing yards. JC Roque Jr. caught five passes for 53 yards and the Panthers' lone receiving touchdown. Harrison Bey-Buie ran in the Panthers' lone rushing TD of the contest.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ryan Crandall and Tucker Langenberg recorded double-digit tackles, with 11 and 10 respectively. Both finished with a half TFL, with Crandall recording a half sack for five yards to go along with a quarterback hurry.
The Cats are coming off their first shutout loss in the regular season since a 2010 loss at Iowa State. The shutout is UNI's first since a 2019 loss to James Madison in the 2019 FCS Playoffs.
In the matchup against Iowa, Jaxon Dailey finished with 11 completions for 91 yards. Ayden Price led the receiving room with 32 yards on a pair of receptions while Caleb Kamara rushed for a UNI-high 21 yards on seven attempts. On the defensive end of the ball, Calvin Jaworski finished with double-digit tackles with 10 solo tackles, a career-high.
Logan Gregory's 71-yard punt in the fourth quarter was the longest punt by a Panther since Sam Kuhter booted a 76-yard punt against North Dakota State in 2017 in Fargo.
The Cats are 3-2 in family weekend contests, dating back to 2021. In that stretch, the Panthers have faced three ranked opponents, and a fourth that was receiving votes for the top 25 at the time. The best opponent UNI has faced on Family Weekend came when the Cats took on the #1/1 South Dakota State Jackrabbits in a loss in 2024. This will be UNI's second top-five-ranked opponent on Family Weekend in the last three years.
The UNI Panther football team leads the Missouri Valley Conference in a number of statistical categories, including blocked kicks (2), defensive TDs (1), fewest fumbles lost (0), turnover margin (0.67), and fewest turnovers lost (3). The Cats are second in the league in fewest penalties (12), and third in the conference in fewest penalties per game (3.00), fewest penalty yards (125), passes had intercepted (3), passes intercepted (6), and red zone defense (0.818).
The Panthers have the seventh-most blocked kicks in the FCS, with PAT blocks by Franz Reisz and Jaylen Pettus.
UNI is one of 50 teams with a defensive touchdown after Calvin Jaworski's 80-yard pcik six. UNI's single defensive TD is ninth in the FCS, with eight programs having a pair.
Josiah Young leads the Valley with 1.33 passes defended per game. The sophomore cornerback is third in the league with 0.33 interceptions per contest.
Kolben Miller and Franz Reisz lead the Cats with 0.67 sacks per game. That mark is ranked second in the Valley behind Southern Illinois' Ibrahim Sanogo's 1.13 per game.
Logan Gregory has the 10th-best punting average in the FCS. After a 71-yard punt, the longest UNI punt since 2017, against Iowa, Logan Gregory averages 45.4 yards per punt, the third-best mark in the Valley.
Jaxon Dailey is back under center for the Panthers after taking over the starting QB job following the Panthers' matchup at Southern Illinois. Dailey was responsible for 32% of UNI's completions, 37% of UNI's passing yards, and 44% of UNI's passing touchdowns last season. The graduate QB finished with 66 completions for 823 yards and seven touchdowns on 110 attempts in 10 games in 2025.
The Panthers' running back room sees some big changes, as Jaxon Dailey is the highest-producing running threat back from a season ago returning to the squad. Dailey accounted for just 16% of UNI's rushing yards, as all of the Panthers' rushing touchdowns depart Cedar Falls after last year. Christian Collins was responsible for 70 yards in four games last season, UNI's biggest returning running back contributor from 2025.
The wideout room gets a couple key pieces back heading into 2026, as Jaiden Ellis-Lahey and Tay Norman return to the lineup. Ellis-Lahey missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to injury, while Norman missed almost all of 2025 after suffering an injury in the first game of the 2025 season. JC Roque Jr., the Panthers' 2025 receiving leader, is back after producing 595 yards and seven touchdowns on 56 receptions. Ayden Price accounted for 365 yards and two touchdowns on 20 receptions a season ago.
UNI brings in transfer running back Xavier Terrell after three seasons at Florida Atlantic. Terrell carried the ball 54 times for 161 yards and one touchdown and caught 13 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown a season ago with the Owls.
Cyrus Courtney and Taj Hughes join the receiving room ahead of the 2026 season. Courtney comes to UNI after a pair of seasons at Iowa Western CC, where he appeared in 13 games, catching 22 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns for the 2025 NJCCA National Champions last season. Hughes comes to Cedar Falls after four seasons with the Drake Bulldogs. While in Des Moines, Hughes was a two-time All-PFL Honorable Mention. Last season, he caught 46 passes for 510 yards and two touchdowns and ran 30 times for 139 yards.
Three high schools in the state of Iowa have produced five current athletes, leading all high schools. Cedar Falls High School (Jarrett Kies, Hayden Bishop, Kailer Smith, Connor Best, and Will Remmert), Urbandale High School (Kai Black, Graham Friedrichsen, Elijah Hoyt, Axel Ramazani, and Jack Hearne), and West Des Moines Valley High School (Ayden Price, Andrew Price, Isaiah Pinks, Rico Alvaranga-Servellon, and Ryan Kuennen) have each produced five current Panthers. Ankeny High School comes in at a close second with four athletes (Andrew Monsivais, Brady McCullough, Lamarious Clark, and Connor Kayser) on the Panther football team.
The 2026 roster of 113 players includes 70 athletes from the great state of Iowa. Of these 70, 13 of them are incoming freshmen, including a pair from across the street at Cedar Falls High School. Of the 113 athletes on the roster, 96 call either Iowa or its six bordering states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska or South Dakota) home.
The UNI Football team currently has five alumni on active professional rosters, including Khristian Boyd (Defensive Lineman - New Orleans Saints), Spencer Brown (Offensive Lineman - Buffalo Bills), Elijah Campbell (Safety - New York Giants), and Trevor Penning (Offensive Lineman - LA Chargers)on NFL rosters and Jared Brinkman (Defensive Lineman - Edmonton Elks) on a CFL roster.
EVER LOYAL CLUB
Digital Ever Loyal Club hospitality and parking passes are now available through your Paciolan account accessible through the UNI Panther Athletics app or your internet browser. Those that requested printed tickets and hospitality passes will be receiving those by next week. Please note that hospitality passes have been printed on gold Ever Loyal Club ticket stock this year to clearly differentiate them from your game tickets. Fall benefit packages will also arrive by next week and include printed parking passes for those that made a special request.
Ever Loyal Club members (Purple-level and above) can once again utilize their tailgate party passes for access to pregame hospitality in the West Dome parking lot where complimentary food, a drink token, and a cash bar await. The tailgate party will be combined with the Hy-Vee Fan Zone for the first 3 games of the season. The annual Thanksgiving meal will take place before the November 7 game against South Dakota State.
Halftime hospitality is available for Ever Loyal Club members (UNI Pride-level and above) all season long. Come enjoy complimentary food and a beverage with us at the North Dome concourse, just east of the new NÜTRL Zone. The space will be open all game long with a cash bar available from the time doors open until the end of the 3rd quarter.
PARKING
Ever Loyal Club parking lots are located North of the UNI-Dome near the WRC (Loyalty-level and above), West of the UNI-Dome (Purple-level and above) and McLeod Center (Champion-level and above) with appropriate parking pass. Spots in the North Dome lot are also available for purchase for $10 per car or $25 per RV/trailer. Free parking remains available for all fans South of the McLeod Center across 27th Street and East of the UNI-Dome across Hudson Road at 23rd Street. Click HERE for additional parking information and a parking map.
TAILGATING GUIDELINES & GAME DAY POLICIES
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with UNI's updated TAILGATING GUIDELINES and GAME DAY POLICIES. The safety and enjoyment of all fans in attendance remains our top priority.
GOING DIGITAL
Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, UNI will be going digital with game day programs! Fans will be able to scan QR codes located around the concourse to access programs for football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and wrestling.
The UNI Athletic Department performed a key update to its official mobile app ("UNI Panther Athletics") ahead of the 2026-27 athletic seasons, allowing fans to purchase tickets and manage their ticket accounts directly through the app.
This new capability will allow fans to seamlessly access their digital tickets, parking passes, Ever Loyal Club passes, and more creating a one-stop shop for all gameday needs.
Tickets will continue to be sold through the UNI Ticket Office online, as well as by phone at 319-273-4849. For any questions regarding the new ticketing integration with the mobile app, please contact the UNI Ticket Office.
The UNI Panther Athletics mobile app is available for download through the Apple App Store for iOS (iPhone/iPad) devices, as well as the Google Play store for Android devices. If you have already downloaded the UNI Panther Athletics mobile app, please visit the app store today to update the app.
ROAD CONSTRUCTION
Heading to a UNI football game? Here's what to know about construction:
Highway 20/Hudson Road interchange
- The Iowa DOT is continuing its reconstruction of Highway 20 in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. View this area on Google Maps.
- Drivers coming from the east, including Dubuque and Cedar Rapids: Beginning Saturday, August 15, use Exit 225 to access Cedar Falls and the UNI campus area via Highway 58. Exit 224 at Hudson Road is currently closed to westbound traffic.
- Drivers coming from the west, including Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Omaha and Sioux City: Exit 224 at Hudson Road remains open and can be used to approach campus.
All impacted locations are subject to change based on anticipated completion dates and other factors.
SPLIT POT RAFFLES
Looking for a little extra excitement on game day? UNI Athletics is introducing split pot raffles at all Panther home football games this season through our partnership with BUMP Raffle.
Fans can purchase raffle entries in person at the UNI-Dome or online while in the state of Iowa, with a portion of each raffle benefiting the Ever Loyal Club and supporting UNI student-athletes. Look for sellers out at the tailgates, walking through the stands, and at our kiosk in the SW concourse of the UNI-Dome.
Raffle details, including entry pricing and how to participate, will be available at each home football game.
Learn more about UNI Athletics' partnership with BUMP Raffle HERE.
HY-VEE FAN ZONE
The first of three Hy-Vee Fan Zone tailgate events this season will take place prior to kickoff of the UNI-Drake game in the northwest corner of the west UNI-Dome parking lot. The hassle-free tailgate experience features a live DJ, opportunity to purchase merchandise from the UNI Bookstore, free food samples,and drinks/beer for sale. Fans can arrive at the Fan Zone at 10 a.m. and stay until 12 p.m. CT.
PANTHER WALK
A new tradition arrived in Panther Nation last season! Two-and-a-half hours before kickoff, the Panther football team and marching band will walk from the dining center to the Panther statue between the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center where fans and family are welcome to meet the team. Be part of this new pregame celebration and welcome them at the finish to help set the tone for victory!
PANTHER PROMOTIONS
Introducing "Panther Promotions" the number one spot to find out what promotions, themes and give-a-ways are happening at UNI Athletics events! Click HERE for all UNI promotions all season long!
Loonie Ballonies face painting and balloon twisting will be located on the North concourse of the UNI-Dome offering free face painting and balloon twisting during the first half of each home game.
CASHLESS GAME DAY
The UNI Athletic Department began implementing a cashless game day policy last season for all home athletics contests, as well as other sporting and non-athletic events held inside the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center.
All purchases at UNI-Dome and McLeod Center food and beverage locations will be cashless, as will retail vendors in the venues, including the UNI Bookstore. Events that require paid parking will also be cashless. Fans must still carry either photo or mobile identification for in-venue alcohol sales.
The UNI Ticket Office will also be switching to cashless payment for purchases, while the Ever Loyal Club parking and hospitality passes will be shifted to a mobile format as well. Those needing special accommodations can reach out to the Ever Loyal Club Office.
Fans can learn more about UNI's existing game day policies HERE.
CLEAR BAGS
UNI Athletics implemented a clear bag policy for spectators for ticketed home events, as well as non-athletic events held inside the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center.
Clear bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC that do not exceed a 12 x 6 x 12 inch size will be permitted, as well as one-gallon, resealable, clear plastic storage bags. Small bags that are not clear but do not exceed a size 4.5 x 6.5 inches will also be allowed. UNI branded clear bags can be purchased at the UNI Bookstore.
Prohibited bags include purses, backpacks, printed pattern plastic bags, tinted plastic bags, duffle bags, fanny packs, reusable grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, large totes and cases (for camera, binoculars, etc.). An exception may be made for some prohibited items for medical necessity after proper inspection at the gate.
Additional information for fans about game day policies and procedures can be found online HERE.
UPDATED UNI-DOME CONCOURSE MAP
TICKET OFFICE
The UNI Ticket Office will call and ticket sales windows at Panther Plaza, located in the lower Hall of Fame Connector, will open 4 hours prior to kickoff on game day, with stadium doors opening 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Beat the line and purchase your tickets online in advance HERE! Please contact the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-4849 or tickets@uni.edu with any questions.
STUDENT TICKET CLAIMS
UNI students will once again be able to attend all Panther home games for free during the 2026 season. Students will be asked to secure their free ticket through UNITIX prior to arriving at the UNI-Dome by following these steps:
- Visit the UNI Panthers App or UNITIX website at unitix.evenue.net
- Click "Student Login With CatID" on the top bar of options
- Select the "Student Login With CatID" and enter your CatID
- Click on "Athletics"
- Select the sport and game(s) you would like to attend
- Click "Add To Card," then "Checkout"
- Scroll down and click "Place My Order)
- All student tickets will be emailed out and will be available on mobile devices.
For any questions regarding student tickets, please contact the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-48949 or at tickets@uni.edu.
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.
