The Drake–Northern Iowa rivalry is the American collegiate athletics rivalry between the Bulldogs sports teams of Drake University and the Panthers sports teams of the University of Northern Iowa.
Both universities are located in the State of Iowa and are members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Drake's campus located in Des Moines and Northern Iowa's campus located in Cedar Falls are only 108 miles apart. The universities are two of the Big Four (NCAA Division I institutions in Iowa) schools, along with the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.
Background
The University of Northern Iowa is a public institution founded in 1876. The Panthers joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 1991. Drake University is a private institution founded in 1881. The Bulldogs were one of the charter members of the Missouri Valley Conference. The schools have been in-state rivals since their founding; however, the rivalry intensified when the Panthers joined the Missouri Valley Conference.
Baseball Northern Iowa and Drake have played forty-eight official NCAA baseball games. Their first official intercollegiate meeting occurred in 1907; however, the teams played unofficial games dating back to 1885. Both Northern Iowa (2010) and Drake (1975) have since been re-classified from NCAA Division I to college club status.
The Panthers won the 2001 Missouri Valley Conference tournament advancing the NCAA Division I tournament regional round. The Bulldogs have not advance to the NCAA Division I tournament in the College World Series era (1947 to present).
Men's Basketball The Panthers and Bulldogs first played in men's basketball in 1908; however, they only played six games prior to the 1980s. Northern Iowa upset top seed Kansas advancing to the NCAA Division I Sweet Sixteen in 2010. Drake appeared in the 1969 NCAA Division I Final Four (narrowly falling to UCLA) and has appeared in three NCAA Division I Elite Eights. They have combined for thirteen Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Northern Iowa 3, Drake 10) and seven Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships (Northern Iowa 5, Drake 2). The Panthers also won the 1990 Mid-Continent Conference tournament.
In 2019 Northern Iowa upset the number two seed co-regular season champion Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament semifinals. The Bulldogs returned the favor in 2020 upsetting the number one seed Panthers in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals becoming the first eight or lower seed to defeat a one seed. The teams would have played again in the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference quarterfinal; however, the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Northern Iowa program causing Drake to advance in a walkover. They also met in the earlier rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on four occasions, splitting those games.
°The 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game scheduled for March 5 in Saint Louis was canceled due to a COVID-19 issue within the Northern Iowa program. Drake advanced to the semifinals in a walkover.
Women's Basketball Northern Iowa and Drake's first official basketball game was in 1975. They had met informally prior to 1975 and the formation of their intercollegiate women's basketball teams. Northern Iowa has not advanced past the NCAA Division I first round. Drake advanced to the 1982 NCAA Division I Elite Eight and the NCAA Division I Sweet Sixteen twice. The Panthers and Bulldogs combine for ten Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Northern Iowa 3, Drake 7) and ten Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships (Northern Iowa 2, Drake 8). The Bulldogs also won the 1984 Gateway Division.
The teams met in the 2017 and 2018 Missouri Valley Tournament championship with Drake prevailing on both occasions; however, Northern Iowa defeated Drake in the 2016 Women's National Invitational Tournament. They also met three times in the earlier rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with the Bulldogs winning all three of the games.
Cross Country Northern Iowa and Drake compete at the NCAA Division I level in men's and women's cross country. The Panther and Bulldog men's and women's teams have traditionally competed in NCAA Division I regionals and at the NCAA Division I championships. The men have won sixteen Missouri Valley Conference team championships (Northern Iowa 4, Drake 12) and women have won four Missouri Valley Conference team championships (Northern Iowa 2, Drake 2). Drake won the 1944, 1945, and 1946 NCAA Division I national cross country team championships.
Each school normally attends the other institutions home meet when held. The Panther Invitationals are hosted at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course in Cedar Falls, Iowa and the Drake Classic is hosted at Ewing Park in Des Moines, Iowa. They also compete against each other in Big Four Duels and other meets throughout the season.
Football
The Missouri Valley Conference has not officially sanctioned football since 1985. Football was discontinued by the conference due to the attendance and financial requirements to maintain “major” or "I-A" or “FBS” conference status. As a result, Northern Iowa joined the Gateway Football Conference (now known as the Missouri Valley Football Conference) and Drake joined the Pioneer Football League. The Missouri Valley Football Conference league offices are still connected to the Missouri Valley Conference office in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Northern Iowa (33) and Drake (13) have combined for 46 football conference championships. The Panthers played in the 2005 FCS National Championship. The Bulldogs were undefeated in major college football in 1922. Northern Iowa and Drake first met on the gridiron in 1900. The teams are scheduled to meet September 12, 2026, in Cedar Falls.
Golf Northern Iowa and Drake compete at the NCAA Division I level in men's and women's golf. The Panther and Bulldog men's and women's teams have traditionally competed in NCAA Division I regionals and at the NCAA Division I championship. The Northern Iowa men, Panther women, and Bulldog women have not yet won a Missouri Valley Conference team championship. The Drake men have won five Missouri Valley Conference team championships.
The Panthers usually attend the Zach Johnson Invitational held at Glen Oaks Country Club while the Bulldogs normally attend the UNI Invitational held at Pheasant Ridge Golf Course. They also compete against each other in Big Four Duels and other meets throughout the season.
Rowing The Drake women are currently the only team classified as an NCAA Division I rowing program. The Northern Iowa men and women, along with the Drake men, are currently classified as college club status.
Rowing is the oldest intercollegiate sport in the United States dating back to 1852 (prior to each institutions founding). The Panther and Bulldog men and women teams have transitioned in-between classification dating back to 1876 (Northern Iowa) and 1881 (Drake). The teams have competed against each other when in a similar classification.
Men's Soccer Northern Iowa has not competed at the NCAA Division I level in men's soccer. Drake has fielded an NCAA Division I men's soccer team since 1986. The Bulldogs advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division I Elite Eight and have won two Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships. Prior to 1986 the two teams competed against each other under the college club status.
Women's Soccer Northern Iowa and Drake's first official NCAA Division I women's soccer game was in 2002. Northern Iowa sanctioned women's soccer in 2000 and Drake sanction women's soccer in 2002. Prior to 2000 they competed against each other under the college club status. The Panthers have never advanced to the NCAA Division I tournament, while the Bulldogs have not advanced past the NCAA Division I tournament first round. Northern Iowa has not won a Missouri Valley Conference title. Drake has won six Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships and one Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship. The 2020 match was postponed to April 7, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The teams have split the two Missouri Valley Conference tournament matches played. Northern Iowa won in 2017 and Drake won in 2021.
Softball Northern Iowa and Drake's first official softball game was in 1976. They had met informally prior to the formation of their intercollegiate softball teams. Northern Iowa won the 1977 and 1982 AIAW College World Series (pre-NCAA Division I era). Both Northern Iowa and Drake have advanced in the NCAA Division I regional rounds. The Panthers and Bulldogs combine for six Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Northern Iowa 3, Drake 3) and six Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships (Northern Iowa 2, Drake 4).
The teams have split their four meetings in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Panthers and Bulldogs met on six occasions in the AIAW regional rounds (pre-NCAA Division I) with Drake holding a 4 win to 2 win advantage.
°2020 games were canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Swimming & Diving The Northern Iowa women are currently the only team classified as an NCAA Division I swimming & diving program. The Northern Iowa men along with Drake men and women are currently classified as college club status.
The Panther and Bulldog men and women teams have transitioned in-between classification for swimming & diving. The Drake men's swimming team won the 1929 Missouri Valley Conference team championship. The Panther men and women, along with the Bulldog men, have never won the Missouri Valley Conference team championship.
Men's Tennis The Missouri Valley Conference first held a regular season team round robin format along with an end of the season conference team tournament during the 1996–97 season. From 1911 to 1912 season to the 1996–97 season the conference had only held a year end tournament to determine their team champion. Northern Iowa and Drake competed on six occasions in the team format prior to the Panthers re-classification as college club status in 2003. The Panthers and Bulldogs also competed in individual competitions at the NCAA Division I level each season.
Northern Iowa have not won a Missouri Valley Conference team championship or advanced to the NCAA Division I team tournament. Drake has won nine Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships and ten Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships. The Bulldogs also won two Summit League championships. Drake advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division I team championships in 2013 and 2015.
Women's Tennis A regular season team round robin format along with an end of the season conference team tournament was first held by the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1996–97 season. The conference had previously only held a year end tournament to determine their team champion. The Panthers and Bulldogs have competed against each other every year in a team format since that season. Northern Iowa has not won a Missouri Valley Conference team championship or advanced to the NCAA Division I team tournament. Drake has won two regular season team Missouri Valley Conference championships and nine Missouri Valley Conference team tournament championships. The Bulldogs have yet to advance past the first round of the NCAA Division I team championships.
In addition, the Panthers and Bulldogs have competed in individual competitions at the NCAA Division I level each season since the founding of their programs.
°The 2020 match in Des Moines was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Track & Field