UNI football off to worst start in over 30 years

CEDAR FALLS - After falling to Southern Illinois University on Saturday, the University of Northern Iowa Panthers have started its season 1-5 for the first time in 31 years.

“We knew some things we had weren't as strong at some positions,” Coach Mark Farley said at his weekly news conference. “I just thought they would come around as we went through the season.”

“We didn't have the depth going in, and then when we got knicked up a little bit, then it became a movement of players to try and find the right combination.”

UNI (1-5, 0-3) has struggled to find any rhythm on defense, leading to three different starting lineups in the past three weeks.

The Panthers face South Dakota State University (5-1, 3-0) on Saturday.

“I can't say I'm surprised,” Farley said about SDSU being the only team to remain unbeaten in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. “The way South Dakota State plays is really how you win day in and day out. That's with the running game.”

“They've got good rhythm. They're catching momentum, and they're sitting at a peak time going into the hard part of their schedule.”

Although UNI has seen its struggles early in the season, Farley knows there have been many bright spots this season, including redshirt freshman quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen.

“As an individual, he's beyond a freshman quarterback mentality and talent. As far as the caliber of the team, you make your difference by winning games, and that's what you've got to pull off,” Farley said.

“I think we haven't played our best football. I thought we were catching our rhythm down at Southern Illinois. We are getting in our own way. We have not played our best football game by far yet. Not even close.”