The 2025 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2025 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Panthers competed as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and were led by first-year head coach Todd Stepsis. Stepsis took over for longtime coach Mark Farley, who retired from coaching at the end of the 2024 season. Stepsis was assisted by first-year offensive coordinator Nate Thompson and first-year defensive coordinator Al Smith. The Panthers played home games at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Schedule

Preseason MVFC poll

The Missouri Valley Football Conference released its preseason poll on July 21, 2025, voted on by league athletic directors, coaches, and media members. The Panthers were predicted to finish eighth in the conference.

Game summaries All times are Central time.

Butler

Statistics BUT UNI First downs 19 25 Total yards 336 448 Rushing yards 147 213 Passing yards 189 235 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-36-2 17–28–0 Time of possession 31:43 28:17 Team Category Player StatisticsButler Passing Reagan Andrew 22/36, 189 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Reagan Andrew 15 carries, 75 yards, TD Receiving Ethan Loss 8 receptions, 81 yardsNorthern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 15/25, 214 yards, 4 TD Rushing Harrison Bey-Buie 12 carries, 81 yards, TD Receiving Tysen Kershaw 2 receptions, 65 yards, TD

at Wyoming (FBS)

Statistics UNI WYO First downs 13 25 Plays–yards 58–170 63–379 Rushes–yards 29–59 37–189 Passing yards 111 190 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–29–2 20–26–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 30:41 29:19 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 15/26, 107 yards, 2 INT Rushing Christian Collins 4 carries, 22 yards Receiving Tysen Kershaw 6 receptions, 41 yardsWyoming Passing Kaden Anderson 17/23, 167 yards, 2 TD Rushing Terron Kellman 7 carries, 87 yards Receiving John Michael Gyllenborg 5 receptions, 65 yards, TD

Eastern Washington

Statistics EWU UNI First downs 16 23 Plays–yards 60–276 75–495 Rushes–yards 25–117 40–136 Passing yards 159 359 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–35–0 23–35–1 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 23:40 36:20 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Washington Passing Nate Bell 21/35, 159 yards Rushing Nate Bell 14 carries, 89 yards, 2 TD Receiving Noah Cronquist 5 receptions, 42 yardsNorthern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 23/34, 359 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Harrison Bey-Buie 26 carries, 86 yards Receiving Tysen Kershaw 6 receptions, 143 yards, TD

at Utah Tech

Statistics UNI UTU First downs 11 22 Total yards 207 349 Rushing yards 47 239 Passing yards 160 110 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–31–0 12–22–1 Time of possession 26:45 33:15 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 18/31, 160 yards Rushing Bill Jackson 11 carries, 36 yards Receiving Ayden Price 2 receptions, 49 yardsUtah Tech Passing Reggie Graff 12/22, 110 yards, TD, INT Rushing Reggie Graff 24 carries, 103 yards Receiving DaJon Harrison 1 reception, 40 yards

No. 15 North Dakota

Statistics UND UNI First downs 20 22 Total yards 422 325 Rushing yards 176 124 Passing yards 246 201 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–23–0 27–41–1 Time of possession 23:37 36:23 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota Passing Jerry Kaminski 20/23, 246 yards, 4 TD Rushing Gaven Ziebarth 7 carries, 62 yards Receiving B.J. Fleming 5 receptions, 134 yards, TDNorthern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 27/40, 201 yards, TD, INT Rushing Bill Jackson 9 carries, 42 yards Receiving JC Roque Jr. 10 receptions, 73 yards

at No. 2 South Dakota State

Statistics UNI SDST First downs 14 24 Total yards 221 382 Rushing yards 78 120 Passing yards 143 262 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–27–4 20–33–0 Time of possession 28:01 31:59 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Matthew Shecklman 12/20, 125 yards, 2 INT Rushing Bill Jackson 10 carries, 29 yards Receiving Tysen Kershaw 2 receptions, 48 yardsSouth Dakota State Passing Chase Mason 19/31, 251 yards, 2 TD Rushing Julius Loughridge 19 carries, 76 yards Receiving Alex Bullock 5 receptions, 82 yards

No. 22 South Dakota

Statistics SDAK UNI First downs 17 20 Total yards 293 285 Rushing yards 91 96 Passing yards 202 189 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–24–0 22–40–0 Time of possession 29:38 30–22 Team Category Player Statistics South Dakota Passing Aidan Bouman 16/24, 202 yards, 2 TD Rushing L. J. Phillips Jr. 15 carries, 73 yards Receiving Larenzo Fenner 3 receptions, 84 yards, 2 TD Northern Iowa Passing Matthew Schecklman 22/40, 189 yards, 2 TD Rushing Matthew Schecklman 16 carries, 60 yards Receiving JC Roque Jr. 7 receptions, 91 yards

at No. 16 Southern Illinois

Statistics UNI SIU First downs 11 21 Total yards 247 433 Rushing yards 120 230 Passing yards 127 203 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–25–1 20–25–0 Time of possession 28:14 31:46 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 8/15, 93 yards, 2 TD Rushing Matthew Schecklman 9 carries, 51 yards Receiving Bill Jackson 5 receptions, 40 yardsSouthern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 19/23, 190 yards, 2 TD Rushing Edward Robinson 9 carries, 86 yards Receiving Jay Jones 3 receptions, 52 yards, TD

at No. 17 Illinois State

Statistics UNI ILS First downs 16 25 Total yards 240 430 Rushing yards 98 202 Passing yards 142 228 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–23–2 28–37–0 Time of possession 28:32 31:28 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 15/23, 142 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaxon Dailey 16 carries, 40 yards Receiving J C Roque Jr 5 receptions, 53 yards, TDIllinois State Passing Tommy Rittenhouse 28/37, 228 yards, 1 TD Rushing Victor Dawson 17 carries, 101 yards, TD Receiving Luke Mailander 4 receptions, 72 yards

Murray State

Statistics MUR UNI First downs 19 23 Total yards 356 440 Rushing yards 197 307 Passing yards 159 133 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–21–1 8–11–0 Time of possession 27:05 32:55 Team Category Player StatisticsMurray State Passing Kaleb Bailey 5/12, 113 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kaleb Bailey 21 carries, 96 yards Receiving Darius Cannon 4 receptions, 77 yards, TDNorthern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 8/11, 133 yards, TD Rushing Bill Jackson 18 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD Receiving JC Roque Jr. 4 receptions, 50 yards, TD

at No. 1 North Dakota State

Statistics UNI NDSU First downs 13 24 Total yards 201 477 Rushing yards 102 209 Passing yards 99 268 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–23–2 18–25–0 Time of possession 29:47 30:13 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 9/23, 99 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Harrison Bey-Buie 9 carries, 62 yards Receiving J C Roque Jr 3 receptions, 42 yards, TDNorth Dakota State Passing Cole Payton 15/17, 212 yards, TD Rushing Cole Payton 10 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bryce Lance 8 receptions, 131 yards, TD

No. 18 Youngstown State

Statistics YSU UNI First downs 19 18 Total yards 417 483 Rushing yards 191 131 Passing yards 226 352 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–25–0 25–34–0 Time of possession 30:14 29:46 Team Category Player StatisticsYoungstown State Passing Beau Brungard 20/25, 226 yards, 2 TD Rushing Beau Brungard 22 carries, 143 yards, 3 TD Receiving Max Tomczak 5 receptions, 82 yardsNorthern Iowa Passing Jaxon Dailey 25/34, 352 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jaxon Dailey 8 carries, 52 yards Receiving Bill Jackson 7 receptions, 115 yards

References