CEDAR FALLS -- Northern Iowa earned its 19th FCS playoff berth Sunday when the FCS playoff committee gave the Panthers an at-large berth into the 24-team field.
UNI (7-4 overall, 6-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will host Monmouth University of West Long Branch, New Jersey at 4 p.m. Saturday inside the UNI-Dome.
The Hawks (9-2) were the runner-ups in the Big South Conference, losing to Kennesaw State, 52-21, in their regular-season finale. Kennesaw State also made the field.
The winner of the UNI-Monmouth game will advance to play at fifth-seeded South Dakota State on Dec. 2 at 2 p.