UNI football: Panthers upset No. 3-ranked Redbirds

Saturday, September 26

Cedar Falls, Iowa

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-2 , 1-0

Illinois State

4-1 , 0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Illinois St.	7	0	7	7	21
UNI	7	14	7	0	28

Photo by: © Andy Saigh

UNI football: Panthers upset No. 3-ranked Redbirds

9/26/2026 8:09:00 PM | Football

Box Score Final Stats

UNI football picked up its first victory of the MVFC slate in a 28-21 upset of third-ranked Illinois State.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI football team hosted the third-ranked Illinois State Redbirds on Family Weekend for the Valley opener inside the Dome. The Cats came out hit and never let off the gas, leading from kick to final kneel in a 28-21 upset of Illinois State.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Panthers opened the game on offense and didn't waste any time finding the end zone. An 11-play, 75-yard drive took 6:10 off the clock before the Cats found the paint on a six-yard reception from Ayden Price, his first touchdown grab of the season. A 22-yard reception from Kaleb Diers, his first collegiate catch, set up the Panther scoring chance. Illinois State responded with a touchdown to even the score at seven on a 14-yard reception in the end zone, but it was all Panthers the rest of the way in the first half.

Jaxon Dailey found Kai Black on an 18-yard reception before the quarterback showed off his legs for the fourth time this year to find the end zone on a 28-yard rush to give UNI a 14-7 lead. Both teams were forced to punt on their following possessions, leading to a fourth and two from the UNI 19-yard line for Illinois State. Franz Reisz got on the quarterback hot and Braden McShane broke up a pass to force a turnover on downs in UNI territory. The Cats used it to their advantage, as Dailey found Jaiden Ellis-Lahey for 50 yards down the middle of the field, burning a defender. The bomb set quarterback Jaxon Dailey who scrambled backwards, avoiding pressure, and threw a dot to Kai Black in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown reception to give UNI a two-touchdown lead at 21-7.

Illinois State once again drove down into UNI territory, finding themselves with a third and 10 from UNI's 17-yard line. A pitch gone wrong from the Redbird's quarterback hit the turf and was pounced on by a waiting CJ Wade, the first fumble recovery of his career. The Panthers knelt out the clock and took a 21-7 lead into the halftime break.

Out of the break, Illinois State found the end zone on its first possession on a nine-yard run. The drive spanned 16 plays and 92 yards which took 7:23 off the clock. Xavier Terrell turned on the jets in UNI's next offensive possession, with a 43-yard rushing touchdown, UNI's longest run of the season. Terell's first touchdown of the year put the Cats up 28-14 before the defense stood tall and forced the Redbirds to punt.

UNI benefitted from another chunk play on a 68-yard reception from Taj Hughes, looking to punch it into the end zone for the dagger. On fourth and goal from the one yard line, the Cats were stopped in the backfield and turned the ball over on downs to the Redbirds. The Cat defense stood tall again, forcing a three-and-out to get the ball back. After a 53-yard field goal wide left by the Cats, UNI's defense forced another turnover on downs to get the ball back, looking to run out the clock.

The Cats were forced to punt the ball back to Illinois State, a drive that produced the Redbirds' third touchdown of the contest to pull within seven points. The Panther hands team hit the field, anticipating an onside kick by Illinois State. Cyrus Courtney came up with one of the biggest receptions of the day to secure the onside. With 2:20 left in the game, the Cats just needed one first down to ice the matchup. An 11-yard run by Xavier Terrell was the dagger, lifting the Cats above the third-ranked Illinois State Redbirds.

Jaxon Dailey finished with 217 passing yards and two passing touchdowns on 13-for-17 passing. Through the air, Taj Hughes led the receiving room with 80 yards on three receptions, while Xavier Terrell ran for 80 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts. John Powers led the defense with 12 total tackles, including one solo, and a pass break up.

UP NEXT

The Panthers head into the bye next Saturday, but will be back in action on Saturday, October 10, inside the UNI-Dome against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. The Homecoming matchup between the Panthers and the Hawks is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT kickoff and will air on ESPN+ with Brad Wells and Justin Surrency.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI improves to 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in MVFC play with a 28-2 victory over Illinois State, their first since 2023.
The Panthers' win over No. 3 Illinois State is UNI's first top-10 victory since a 27-0 shutout of No. 9 North Dakota in the UNI-Dome in 2023. It is the Panthers' first top-five win since a victory over No. 3 Southern Illinois in 2021.
Jaiden Ellis-Lahey's 50-yard reception in the second quarter tied a career-long reception, which he set against South Dakota in 2024.
CJ Wade's fumble recovery in the second quarter was the first of his career and UNI's third of the season.

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.