UNI’s poise a major factor in all 3 wins over top-10 foes this season

CEDAR FALLS - It sure hasn't been the prettiest march through the FCS' toughest schedule (per Sagarin), but Northern Iowa's ability to respond each time it's been knocked down this season is what makes it a dangerous opponent.

An unexpected Week 3 non-conference loss to Southern Utah, a devastating last-second loss at home to Western Illinois, and a turnover-filled Week 9 loss to North Dakota State would be enough to irreparably damage most teams' psyches. But not this UNI team.

On Saturday, with its playoff life on the line, UNI (5-4, 4-2 MVFC) responded, again. This time with yet another upset win over a top-10 opponent, their third such win in four weeks.

'We kind of hit a little stall there, and our defense was telling us it is alright,” tight end Briley Moore said Saturday. 'When (Jared Farley) got that fumble, I sure hope somebody got video of our sideline. It was amazing and what we needed as a team, as an offense.”

Plays like the one Moore described from Saturday's 34-29 comeback win over then-No. 6 South Dakota - which arguably has the FCS' most potent offense - is a perfect example of the type of opportune plays that have defined the Panthers' five wins this season. Outside of all the timely play-making, perhaps the most impressive element of UNI's three wins over top-10 foes are zero combined turnovers.

A play-making defense paired with an offense that's taking care of the football has proved to be a powerful recipe for the Panthers as the playoffs draw near.

Beyond the positives that are happening on the field, the Panthers are building off the field as Moore alluded to in his postgame comments. Defensive players encouraging a sputtering offense and saying they had their back on Saturday as the fourth quarter began was as big of a factor as anything in the fourth quarter comeback.

'There were points in that game where you were sitting on the fence and it could have fell in either direction. Good or bad,” UNI head coach Mark Farley said. 'That's where you need the team - it doesn't matter what the coach says - that's where the team dynamic will take place to see if they will take charge of the situation and have the back of the other. It happened that way in that particular football game and that's what's good about it. If the players are thinking like that, then you've got opportunities to win close football games. The character of your team is what will stand out in the end and that's what stood out to me these last four games.”

After all their ups and downs - and most recently, ups - these Panthers may be the least respected - from a top-25 poll perspective - among all the MVFC playoff hopefuls. It's something that doesn't seem to be bothering the players, and certainly isn't on Farley's radar.

'I don't see any value in (the polls) because the problem with FCS football is the non-conference schedules. They're all over the board right now and I think the only poll that matters is the (playoff) committee poll, and you've got to wait until the last game to even look at them. Because wins and losses really don't matter when you look at who the wins and losses are against by some teams and by others. Where we stand - because we always look at it from our glass is half full - is we've got the No. 1 schedule in the country.”