UNI football 2024 opponent preview: Valpo is a rare — and winnable — FCS opener

Editor’s note: First in a 12-part series looking at the Northern Iowa football opponents in 2024.

CEDAR FALLS — For the first time since its spring season during the COVID pandemic in 2021, Northern Iowa will open its season against a non-FBS opponent.

The Valparaiso Beacons will travel to the UNI-Dome for the Panthers’ season-opener on Aug. 31.

It will be the first meeting between the two teams and the matchup offers UNI a rare opportunity to begin a season with a game it will be the betting favorite in.

The Beacons — also an FCS team — compete in the non-scholarship Pioneer League Conference and are coming off a 3-8 season in 2023. Coach Landon Fox is 17-35 (.327) in his five seasons at Valparaiso and his 14 conference wins since 2020 are the program’s most in a four-year period.

Leading passers Michael Appel Jr. and Rowan Keefe return after playing in five games apiece last season. Leading rusher Ryan Mann also returns for a Beacons’ offense that finished last in the PFL in scoring in 2023.

UNI vs. Valparaiso: 3 things to watch

1. UNI’s debut of the ‘Air Raid’ offense

The recent, sudden departure of first-year offensive coordinator Luke Falk adds even more intrigue and unpredictability into what the Panthers’ new offense will look like in its season-opener.

It’s likely first-year quarterbacks coach Trey Tinsley — who worked with 2023 Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams at USC last season as a graduate assistant — will be elevated to play-caller after Falk’s exit. However, another “Air Raid” aficionado in Joel Filani has been added by Coach Mark Farley to the staff, providing a play-calling option with slightly more experience than Tinsley.

2. QB debut

Along with debuting a new offense in its season-opener against the Beacons, UNI will debut a new starting quarterback.

Redshirt junior Aidan Dunne, Arkansas State transfer Jaxon Dailey and redshirt sophomore Matthew Schecklman are set to compete for the job in preseason camp and whoever gets the gig will be expected to get off to a promising start against an opponent like Valpo.

If the QB competition winner struggles against the Beacons, it’s likely whoever came in second will see time in the opener.

3. Pass rush roll call

With only three starters returning on its defense, and none of those being on the defensive line, UNI needs to quickly learn who it has that can get to opposing quarterbacks.

There are many other questions the Panthers’ defense will need to answer early in the season, but if they’re unable to generate a pass rush against Valparaiso it could be an ominous sign of what’s to come.

UNI vs. Valparaiso prediction

Experience and talent along its offensive line and in its backfield makes for an efficient, vanilla-looking, but decisive win for the Panthers against the Beacons.

Valparaiso has improved under Fox, but the talent and size gap between the programs is a lot for the Beacons to overcome. UNI should have control of the game by halftime, potentially allowing for valuable snaps in the second half with those that came up short in position battles in preseason camp.