Cole Bair

If Northern Iowa’s new-look offense is going to reach its potential this season, it’ll require its running game to produce at a high level. Sixth-year seniors Dom Williams and Vance McShane will look to improve upon solid 2021 seasons.

Behind Northern Iowa’s young, budding defensive line are a number of experienced linebackers and defensive backs.

All-American Jared Brinkman and all-MVFC second-teamer Tim Butcher, graduated after the 2021 season, leaving gaping holes in the interior of the UNI defensive line. The cupboard isn’t empty, though.

Despite the loss of All-America left tackle Trevor Penning, UNI football returns three starting offensive linemen and two others with previous starting experience.

It’s safe to say the competition at wide receiver is more robust than any other position in Northern Iowa’s preseason camp.

Picked sixth in the MVC’s preseason poll on Wednesday, Northern Iowa volleyball coach Bobbi Petersen said reckoning with the struggles of the past two seasons has made her lose sleep at night, but she’s also made sure to keep perspective.

Despite a 22-year tenure as Northern Iowa’s head coach with a reputation as one of the FCS’s best defensive minds, Mark Farley spoke plenty at Wednesday’s media day about points.

After a dose of Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley last week during the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s media day, the Panthers coach spoke at length Wednesday in what was his 22nd team media day, but first in the program’s new team meeting room.

Entering Wednesday’s media day, here are the five biggest questions facing Mark Farley’s 2022 Northern Iowa football team.

For the first time since 2019, Northern Iowa is enjoying the consistency of a typical football calendar and that regularity has Coach Mark Farley encouraged. What’s also encouraging to Farley is that this fall camp will be the first held on campus at its new outdoor practice facility.

Missouri Valley Football Conference commissioner Patty Viverito made certain during Monday’s league-wide media day that she doesn’t have answers to all the questions, speculation and uncertainty that exists in an ever-changing college football landscape.

Iowa football signees Aaron Graves and Landyn Van Kekerix earned team MVP honors as the North topped the South in 50th Iowa Shrine Bowl all-star football game in Cedar Falls on Saturday.

West Central Coach Steve Milder, who will begin his 51st year coaching high school football this fall, is leading the North squad in the 50th annual Iowa Shrine Bowl on Saturday at the UNI-Dome.

In the first league-wide news conference since the additions of Belmont, Illinois-Chicago and Murray State became official on July 1 and the Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball coaches showered unanimous praise on second-year commissioner Jeff Jackson.

Despite not hearing his name called during Thursday night’s NBA draft, former Northern Iowa standout AJ Green has verbally agreed to terms on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.