Northern Iowa Panthers
Missouri Valley
Northern Iowa had to navigate a brutal schedule in order to reach the FCS playoffs. They lost their opener at Iowa State, but managed to slip past Eastern Washington and Cal Poly the following two weeks. Those were both huge wins for the Panthers, especially since trips to Illinois State and North Dakota State were coming up next. UNI lost both of those games to fall to 2-3 overall. A shocking home loss to Western Illinois left Coach Mark Farley and company needing to win out in order to reach the playoffs. And win out they did, finishing the regular season with five straight victories.
2015 Record: 7-4, 5-3
Coach: Mark Farley
Big Wins: 9/12 Eastern Washington (38-35), 11/7 Indiana State (59-13)
Bad Losses: 10/3 at Illinois State (13-21), 10/17 Western Illinois (19-24)
Strengths:
It has been the defense that has really stepped up down the stretch and the Panthers have great playmakers all over the field on that side of the ball. Deiondre’ Hall is one of the best cornerbacks in the country and he has picked off six passes this season. Tim Kilfoy is an experienced safety. His numbers aren’t as eye popping as they were a year ago, but Kilfoy is an experience senior who does what UNI needs him to do. Linebacker Brett McMakin is the team’s best tackler and a great leader in the middle of the defense. The strong secondary and all of the turnovers they make is in part due to one of the better pass rushes in the FCS. Karter Schult and Isaac Ales spend a lot of time in the backfield. Those two alone combined for 19.5 sacks and 34.0 tackles-for-loss.
Weaknesses:
While talented, Northern Iowa’s offense is pretty one-dimensional. Quarterback Aaron Bailey is not going to go out there and heave the ball around the field. In fact, the less he has to throw, the better off the Panthers will be. But what Bailey does do is run. He leads the team in rushing and has a knack for finding the end zone. Combine Bailey with Tyvis Smith and this is a very good team on the ground. The problem is when Northern Iowa needs Bailey to make plays with his arm. That usually does not turn out too well and sooner or later, if Northern Iowa wants to make a serious playoff run, Bailey is going to have to connect on a big, clutch pass.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Aaron Bailey, QB, 1,029 yards
Passing: Aaron Bailey, QB, 1,362 yards
Receiving: Daurice Fountain, WR, 493 yards
Tackles: Brett McMakin, LB, 95
Sacks: Karter Schult, DL, 12.0
Interceptions: Deiondre’ Hall, CB, 6
2015 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 210.9 (22nd in nation, 3rd in conference)
Passing Offense: 160.8 (97, 8)
Total Offense: 371.7 (62, 7)
Scoring Offense: 26.9 (60, 7)
Rushing Defense: 112.6 (15, 1)
Pass Defense: 213.3 (57, 5)
Total Defense: 325.9 (26, 3)
Scoring Defense: 18.9 (20, 2)
Turnover Margin: 0.90 (13, 1)
Sacks: 3.10 (7, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 3.10 (107, 8)
Recent Playoff Appearances:
2014 First Round Defeated Stephen F. Austin
2014 Second Round Lost to Illinois State
2011 Second Round Defeated Wofford
2011 Quarterfinals Lost to Montana
2010 First Round Lost to Lehigh
2008 First Round Defeated Maine
2008 Quarterfinals Defeated New Hampshire
2008 Semifinals Lost to Richmond
2007 First Round Defeated New Hampshire
2007 Quarterfinals Lost to Delaware
2005 First Round Defeated Eastern Washington
2005 Quarterfinals Defeated New Hampshire
2005 Semifinals Defeated Texas State
2005 Championship Lost to Appalachian State
2003 First Round Defeated Montana State
2003 Quarterfinals Lost to Delaware
2001 First Round Defeated Eastern Illinois
2001 Quarterfinals Defeated Maine
2001 Semifinals Lost to Montana
1996 First Round Defeated Eastern Illinois
1996 Quarterfinals Defeated William & Mary
1996 Semifinals Lost to Marshall
1995 First Round Defeated Murray State
1995 Quarterfinals Lost to Marshall
1994 First Round Lost to Montana
1993 First Round Lost to Boston University
1992 First Round Defeated Eastern Washington
1992 Quarterfinals Defeated McNeese State
1992 Semifinals Lost to Youngstown State
1991 First Round Defeated Weber State
1991 Quarterfinals Lost to Marshall
1990 First Round Lost to Boise State
1987 First Round Defeated Youngstown State
1987 Quarterfinals Defeated Arkansas State
1987 Semifinals Lost to Louisiana Monroe
1985 Quarterfinals Defeated Eastern Washington
1985 Semifinals Lost to Georgia Southern
*all team stats through 11/14
