UNI football 2024 schedule with kickoff times, TV channels, early season predictions

Here is the 2024 Northern Iowa football schedule with kickoff times (all CT), TV channels and streaming options, plus predictions from Gazette correspondent Cole Bair.

Aug. 31: Valparaiso

Time: 4 p.m.

Watch: CFU 15, KCRG 9.2, Marquee, ESPN+

Series: First meeting.

Prediction: Experience and talent along the offensive line and in the backfield makes for an efficient, vanilla-looking, but decisive win for the Panthers against the Beacons. Valparaiso has improved under Coach Landon 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. — Cole Bair

Early preview: UNI gets a rare — and winnable — FCS season opener

Sept. 7: at St. Thomas

Time: 1 p.m.

Watch: TommieSports.com

Series: UNI leads, 1-0, a 44-3 win in 2021.

Prediction: UNI leans on the size and strength of its offensive and defensive lines to stay ahead of the chains and limit turnovers for a mostly undramatic road win against the Tommies. It’s likely St. Thomas’ talent and skill does the Panthers a favor or two by exposing things that will need to be cleaned up before the next week’s road trip to Nebraska. — Cole Bair

Early preview: UNI begins early stretch of road games at St. Thomas

Sept. 14: at Nebraska

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Watch: BTN

Series: First meeting.

Prediction: An ascending Nebraska program takes another forward in a season that’s expected to end with bowl eligibility with a rather comfortable win at home against the Panthers. The fact this game happens in week 3, rather than 1 or 2, is also likely to make the always-tough FBS buy game even tougher, as the Cornhuskers will have the benefit of two games played and likely a mental fortitude with Big Ten games beginning the following week. UNI hopefully doesn’t have too many wounds to lick after its trip west on I-80 to Lincoln and can return to Cedar Falls with a check in tow and valuable information on how best to improve before a road trip to Hawaii. — Cole Bair

Early preview: UNI heads to Nebraska for an FBS buy game

Sept. 21: at Hawaii

Time: 11 p.m.

Watch: Spectrum Sports PPV

Series: Hawaii leads, 1-0, a 27-24 win in 2014.

Prediction: A productive UNI run game keeps the game close initially, but Hawaii’s home-field advantage, passing offense and passing defense prove too much to overcome, giving the Panthers a 2-2 record headed into MVFC games. — Cole Bair

Early preview: Hawaii trip is no vacation for UNI football

Oct. 5: FCS No. 1 South Dakota State

Time: 4 p.m.

Watch: ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: First

Series: UNI leads, 27-24-1. South Dakota State won last season’s meeting, 41-6.

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. — Cole Bair

Early preview: 2-time defending FCS champion South Dakota State offers a huge challenge

Oct. 12: at FCS No. 5 South Dakota

Time: 2 p.m.

Watch: ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: Third

Series: UNI leads, 28-18, including a 58-14 win in 2022.

Prediction: Mark Farley is 9-3 all-time against South Dakota and his success continues as the Panthers take much-needed steps forward in all three phases to earn a much-needed road win that keeps playoff hopes intact. — Cole Bair

Early preview: South Dakota boasts the return of former Iowa State quarterback Aidan Bouman

Oct. 19: at FCS No. 24 North Dakota

Time: 1 p.m.

Watch: ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: Fifth

Series: UNI leads, 22-11, including a 27-0 win last season.

Prediction: UNI’s experience and talent of its offensive line and running backs creates an obvious advantage against an inexperienced UND defense, making for a second straight MVFC road win and the beginning of serious playoff talk surrounding a now 4-3 Panthers team. — Cole Bair

Early preview: UNI and North Dakota have a lot in common

Oct. 26: Missouri State

Time: 4 p.m.

Watch: CFU 15, KCRG 9.2, Marquee, ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: Ninth

Series: UNI leads, 36-8. Missouri State won last season’s meeting, 35-16.

Prediction: With the return of Jacob Clark at QB, all five of its starters on the offensive line and a defense highly likely to improve, the Bears have the makings of a playoff team in their final FCS season. Making the 24-team field is likely to require a win at UNI and Clark proves too much to handle inside the UNI-Dome, leaving the Panthers 4-4. — Cole Bair

Early preview: UNI hosts Missouri State in the Bears’ final MVFC season

Nov. 2: at FCS No. 2 North Dakota State

Time: 2:30 p.m.

Watch: ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: Second

Series: North Dakota State leads, 29-21, including a 48-27 win last season.

Prediction: UNI’s struggles in Fargo — like nearly all other teams — continue, putting its proverbial back against the wall when it comes to making the playoffs. Now 4-5, the Panthers would likely need to win out. — Cole Bair

Early preview: Former Solon prep Cam Miller is an experienced QB for a Bison team coached by former Iowa offensive line coach Tim Polasek

Nov. 9: FCS No. 19 Illinois State

Time: 1 p.m.

Watch: CFU 15, KCRG 9.2, Marquee, ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: Sixth

Series: UNI leads, 24-15, including a 24-21 win last season.

Prediction: Home-field advantage has proven to be especially important when these two teams and coaches match up. UNI squeezes out a win at the UNI-Dome to keep its playoff hopes alive as it improves to 5-5 overall. — Cole Bair

Early preview: Expect another tight game when UNI hosts Illinois State

Nov. 16: at FCS No. 25 Youngstown State

Time: 11 a.m.

Watch: ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: Seventh

Series: UNI leads, 26-9, including a 44-41 win last season.

Prediction: A win at YSU could solidify an at-large bid for the Panthers in the FCS playoffs. It’s one of, if not the toughest of the MVFC’s road trips, but UNI Coach Mark Farley’s 16-3 record all-time against the Penguins speaks for itself. UNI gets a critical win for its playoff resume to improve to 6-5, so important it could allow for a slip up at home against Indiana State in its regular-season finale. — Cole Bair

Early preview: Youngstown State road trip could be important for UNI’s playoff hopes

Nov. 23: Indiana State

Time: 1 p.m.

Watch: CFU 15, KCRG 9.2, Marquee, ESPN+

MVFC preseason poll: 10th

Series: UNI leads, 31-5, including a 27-20 win last season.

Prediction: UNI’s roster proves better than Indiana State’s in a relatively comfortable win, leaving the Panthers 7-5 overall and in the 24-team playoff field. Short of a pair of road wins against preseason top-25 opponents this season, the Panthers will instead be sitting at home in early December rather than playing for a championship. — Cole Bair

Early preview: Regular season ends against a struggling Indiana State program