UNI football vs. North Dakota State 2023 game time, TV, live stream, score prediction and analysis

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa hosts rival North Dakota State on Saturday in a regular-season finale that’s a de facto playoff game.

A seventh win for UNI (6-4, 5-2) — its sixth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference — would give its resume what it needs to receive an at-large bid to the 24-team FCS playoff field.

NDSU (7-3, 4-3) leads the series all-time against the Panthers, 29-26, and UNI head coach Mark Farley is 4-11 against the Bison.

NDSU is coming off a 34-10 home win against 15th-ranked Southern Illinois.

The Bison are led by their dynamic and balanced offense that ranks second in the MVFC in points per game and first in yards per game. Solon native Cam Miller leads NDSU’s passing attack that averages 206.4 yards per game. He also leads the team in rushing yards per game at 52.9 as the Bison have used five other ball carriers along with Miller in all 10 of their games this season to average an MVFC-best 240.6 yards.

Here are three keys for the Panthers against North Dakota State:

1. Bring the (run) D

It doesn’t take an expert to realize that UNI simply can’t allow North Dakota State’s run game to get anywhere near its 240.6-yard average if it wants to have a chance to win.

The Bison are at their best when they’re running effectively and setting up the play-action pass. After a lackluster performance in last Saturday’s loss at Missouri State, UNI’s run defense needs to prove why it ranks first in the MVFC.

2. Day of all days

UNI quarterback Theo Day has put himself all over the program’s record book in the 31 starts he’s made in three years as a Panther. He’s undoubtedly one of the best signal-callers to ever wear the jersey, but how revered his legacy will ultimately be hinges on Saturday’s game.

Coming off what may have been his worst game as a Panther at Missouri State, Day must not only bounce back, but play at the high level he demonstrated more frequently as a junior and less frequently this season as a senior.

3. Special, special teams

As tightly contested as many of the games between UNI and North Dakota State have been, special teams has frequently been a turning point in them.

NDSU has registered a number of game-changing kick and punt returns in the series, while UNI has maintained an edge with its field-goal kicking.

Whichever team is able to make the biggest plays in the third phase likely wins the game.

UNI vs. North Dakota State

Kickoff time: 4 p.m. (CT)

TV: KCRG 9.2, CFU Channel 15, Marquee Sports Network

Livestream: ESPN+

Prediction: North Dakota State 27, UNI 24