UNI football vs. Western Illinois 2023 game time, live stream, score prediction and analysis

CEDAR FALLS — Northern Iowa football aims for its sixth win in its last seven games Saturday at home against Western Illinois.

UNI is 35-16 all-time against the Leathernecks, 16-6 under Coach Mark Farley and has won four straight.

The Leathernecks (0-8, 0-5) are coming off a 63-0 home loss against Southern Illinois last week.

Western Illinois’ struggles this season are profound with the MVFC’s 11th-ranked offense and 12th-ranked defense. Former UNI quarterback Matt Morrissey is the Leathernecks starter and ranks sixth among all MVFC quarterbacks in passing efficiency. WIU senior defensive back Bradyn Smith leads the conference in tackles per game, averaging 9.6.

Here are three keys to victory for the Panthers.

1. Limit the lulls

While the Panthers have won five of their last six games, they continue to suffer offensive and defensive lulls that have made those wins less comfortable than they should have been.

Against an opponent experiencing as many struggles as Western Illinois, UNI needs to prove it can dominate.

Anything short of a decisive win with little to no errors could indicate the Panthers are not as close to realizing their potential this season as it appears they are.

2. A Day of dominance

UNI All-America quarterback Theo Day is in the midst of another highly productive season, despite the fact the numbers are not quite as gaudy as they were a season ago.

With three games left in the regular season, and a 2-1 finish guaranteeing a return to the playoffs, it’s important Day demonstrates his ability to dominate against Western Illinois and put himself in position to build off a big game for the Panthers stretch run.

3. Seize your snap count

While injuries have thinned, the Panthers’ defensive back depth, running back, linebacker, wide receiver and defensive line continue to demonstrate impactful depth.

Against a winless opponent like Western Illinois, it’s likely some of that depth on the defensive line and at wide receiver could see more snaps than usual

Saturday’s game could be a last chance for some of UNI’s reserves to prove they’re deserving of more opportunities. Having a clearer picture of what the depth chart should look like will be valuable information as the Panthers look to return to the FCS playoffs.

UNI vs. Western Illinois (Nov. 4, 2023)

Kickoff time: 1 p.m. (CT)

TV: KCRG 9.2, Marquee

Live stream: ESPN+

Prediction: UNI 38, Western Illinois 13