UNI football vs. Illinois State: Live stream, 3 keys to the game, score prediction (Nov. 9, 2024)

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa faces its sixth straight ranked Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent Saturday when it hosts Illinois State.

UNI (2-7 0-5) enters Saturday’s game against the No. 18 Redbirds (6-3, 3-2) with a 24-15 lead in the series all-time and a 12-10 record under head coach Mark Farley. The Panthers also enter the game on a seven-game losing streak, the longest of Farley’s 24-year tenure.

Illinois State is coming off a 23-16 win at home against Youngstown State (3-7, 2-4).

Averaging 25.7 points per game, the Redbirds rank seventh in the conference. Meanwhile, UNI ranks eighth in the MVFC, allowing 32.4 points per game.

Illinois State’s offense is led by a run game that averages 174.9 yards per game. Junior running back Wenkers Wright ranks third in the MVFC, averaging 82.7. Redbirds quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse also is a factor in the run game, averaging 44.2 yards.

Known for its typically formidable defense under 16th-year head coach Brock Spack, Illinois State ranks fifth in the conference in scoring defense. The unit is led by sophomore linebacker Tye Niekamp, who ranks fourth in the MVFC, averaging eight tackles per game.

Here are three keys to the game for the Panthers.

1. Offensive optimism

While UNI’s losing streak has continued, its offensive struggles haven’t as of late.

The Panthers have scored 42 and 19 points in their last two games and redshirt sophomore quarterback Matthew Schecklman has cemented himself as the starter after taking over for Aidan Dunne four weeks ago.

As Schecklman has steadily improved as a passer with more experience, UNI’s run game also has revived itself in recent games, making the Panthers poised to snap their losing streak if they get a little help from their defense.

2. Scheme success?

Despite the result of last Saturday’s 42-19 loss at No. 1 North Dakota State, Farley spoke optimistically this week about a scheme change to a three-man defensive front.

The scheme created more downs and distances needed for success, but against an opponent like NDSU, there wasn’t enough success on third down to capitalize.

Safety Tate Sander got his first start of the season last week as a result of the change and led UNI in tackles with 11. He told The Gazette this week there’s less thinking and more reacting in the Panthers’ new scheme, and the attitude among the defense since the change has been positive.

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Tate Sander has a big role in UNI football’s new defensive scheme

If UNI is going to end its losing streak, the three-man front defense will have to prove itself against Illinois State.

3. Home cookin’

UNI is 14-4 all-time against the Redbirds at the UNI-Dome and, despite the Panthers’ disappointing record so far this season, the home crowds have been good.

With an offense that’s improving and a defense potentially ready to finally take a much-needed step forward, the next difference-maker to put UNI back in the win column could be as simple as playing inside the UNI-Dome on Saturday.

UNI vs. Illinois State (Nov. 9, 2024)

Kickoff time: 1 p.m. (CT)

Stream: ESPN+

Radio: 93.5 The Mix (App available), Panther Sports Radio Network (via TuneIn)

Prediction: UNI 31, Illinois State 27