South Dakota State will offer huge challenge for UNI football

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

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa faces an unkind beginning to Missouri Valley Football Conference play in Week 5 against top-ranked and back-to-back defending national champion South Dakota State.

The Panthers will have the benefit of a bye week ahead of their matchup against the Jackrabbits, as well as home field advantage, but will nonetheless be a betting underdog against the FCS’ preeminent dynasty program.

Walter Payton award winner Mark Gronowski — FCS’ most highly decorated and accomplished quarterback — returns to lead SDSU’s offense in 2024 one last time as a senior.

Graduations of brothers Jaxon and Jadon Janke — the Jackrabbits top two receivers last season — arguably represents the biggest hole on a formidable roster. But running backs Amar and Angel Johnson and two preseason Phil Steele All-Americans on the offensive line make for what’s highly likely to be another dynamic unit.

Defensively SDSU is replacing six starters, but a number of those replacements have game experience.

Linebacker Adam Bock — a former Solon prep — returns for his senior season as a second-team Phil Steele preseason All-American alongside preseason All-American defensive backs Tucker Large and Dalys Beanum.

UNI vs. South Dakota State: 3 things to watch

UNI’s road trip to SDSU last season was one to forget. Three fumbles and two interceptions made for a largely uncompetitive game.

As simple and obvious as it may seem, the Panthers will need to be on point with their ball security and presnap procedures to give themselves a chance at an upset. Even with the losses the Jackrabbits have experienced due to graduation, there’s very little chance they lose any games this season if they’re winning the turnover margin.

After ranking first and second in the FCS in rushing yards allowed per game the past two seasons, SDSU enters 2024 having lost five of its six top defensive lineman from 2023.

It’s hard to imagine a steep falloff from the Jackrabbits run defense given their depth, but an inexperienced group playing its first MVFC game of the season could be exploitable — especially considering what UNI returns in its backfield and on its offensive line.

If UNI can tie or win the turnover battle and establish its run game against an unproven SDSU front seven, it’s likely an upset also will require sound special teams play against the back-to-back defending national champions.

That must include winning the field position game with punter Noah Pettinger and its kick and punt returners, as well as converting makable field goals with first-year starter Caden Palmer.

Prediction

A much more competitive game than last season’s, but too steep of a challenge for a UNI team that’s likely to need more experience in MVFC games before being equipped to pull off such an upset.

Getting the MVFC’s most stern test in its conference opener, though, could prove to be beneficial in the weeks’ ahead.