UNI football regular season ends against struggling Indiana State program

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

CEDAR FALLS — Potential relief from a rigorous 2024 schedule looks to arrive for Northern Iowa in its regular season finale at home against Indiana State.

After facing six Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents ranked in the FCS top 25, and a seventh receiving votes in preseason polls, the Panthers host a Sycamores team picked to finish 10th in the conference’s preseason poll.

Indiana State is coming off a 1-10 2023 season in which its only win was against since-departed MVFC foe Western Illinois.

The Sycamores defense fared slightly better than its offense in what became a forgettable 2023 season, ranking ninth (30.0 points per game) and 11th, respectively (13.5).

Indiana State returns six starters on defense, while only three return on offense.

Questions exist throughout the Sycamores offense with three quarterbacks contending for the starting job and their top rusher and top two receivers having all departed.

Linebacker Garrett Ollendieck was named a second team preseason All-American by Phil Steele. Ollendieck also was a preseason All-MVFC honoree, along with defensive back Maddix Blackwell, linebacker Geoffrey Brown and defensive lineman Gianini Belizaire.

UNI vs. Indiana State: 3 things to watch

1. Backs against the wall?

The 2024 season will be head coach Curt Mallory’s eighth year at Indiana State and he enters this season with a 20-47 record leading the Sycamores, so it’s not out of the question that a lot could be riding on the result of their regular-season finale against the Panthers.

Mallory compiled a 17-17 record between 2018 and 2021 — despite the program’s disadvantages with regard to resources — proving himself capable of building playoff contending teams in Terre Haute. Combine Mallory’s potential circumstances with a UNI team that may need a win to secure an at-large bid to the playoffs and the recipe is there for a much more dramatic game than many might anticipate.

2. Bread and butter

It’s hard to think of any reasons for UNI to not lean on its strengths against the Sycamores.

This matchup is among a few on the Panthers’ schedule that strongly suggests leaning on an experienced and talented offensive line and running backs to wear down an opponent that’s overmatched on paper.

3. Beauty contest?

While UNI may need a win to secure a playoff spot, it’s also possible it may need a convincing win given the likelihood of its opponent being a cellar dweller in the conference.

If a lead gets built early in the first half, staying aggressive on offense well into the second half may be necessary to win over a majority of FCS playoff committee members.

Prediction for UNI vs. Indiana State

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.