CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — Northern Iowa’s nonconference slate has come and gone, giving way to a daunting Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule that includes five foes currently ranked in the FCS Coaches Poll. Four of those five are in the top 10.
The Panthers’ first conference test arrives Saturday at Southern Illinois (2-1), a team that hung tough into the fourth quarter against Memphis last week before falling 44-31. Northern Iowa (1-2) enters off a bye after sandwiching an overtime win over Cal Poly between losses at Iowa State and Southern Utah.
A look at what we’ve learned from the Panthers so far heading into Valley play.