Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
WHEN: Saturday, September 14 | 6:30 PM (CT)
WHERE: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: Big Ten Network (Guy Haberman, Yogi Roth, Rhett Lewis)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
3 - A win on Saturday over UNI would give Nebraska a perfect 3-0 record in non-conference play. Nebraska last went undefeated in non-league action in 2016, and since 2000 also posted perfect non-conference records in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2014.
14 - The Nebraska defense has held the opposition to 14 or fewer points in six consecutive home games, including 2024 wins over UTEP and Colorado. Under Matt Rhule, Nebraska has held eight of nine opponents at Memorial Stadium to 14 or fewer points.
23 - Nebraska is ranked No. 23 in this week's Associated Press Poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches poll. It marks the first time Nebraska has been ranked in either poll since before the second game of the 2019 season.
HUSKERS
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. Colorado (W 28-10)
Rankings: #23 (AP) | #24 (Coaches)
Head Coach: Matt Rhule (54-50, 9th year overall | 7-7, 2nd year at Nebraska | 0-0 vs. UNI)
PANTHERS
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Last Game: at St. Thomas (W 17-10)
Rankings: #21 (FCS Coaches)
Head Coach: Mark Farley (182-103, 24th year overall | 182-103, 24th year at UNI | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and Northern Iowa.
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes non-conference play on Saturday night when the Huskers take on the Northern Iowa Panthers at Memorial Stadium. The first meeting between the schools is set to kick off shortly after 6:30 p.m. BTN will provide the national television coverage and the game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers App.
The Huskers come into the contest at 2-0 after a 28-10 victory over Colorado in an electric environment in Memorial Stadium last Saturday. Nebraska jumped to a 28-0 halftime lead behind a dominant defensive effort and cruised to the win to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2016. The win also vaulted Nebraska into the national polls at No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
Through two games, the Huskers have shown the ability to control the clock with a balanced offensive attack. Nebraska is averaging 186.0 yards per game on the ground, while throwing for 234.5 yards per game. The Blackshirt defense has limited opponents to just 36.0 rushing yards through two contests, while holding both opponents to 10 points or less. The Huskers have also won the turnover margin through two games, committing just one turnover in two contests, while forcing two takeaways against both UTEP and Colorado.
Northern Iowa also enters Saturday's game with a 2-0 record after a 17-10 victory at St. Thomas (Minn.) on Saturday. UNI trailed 10-7 entering the fourth quarter but scored 10 points in the final quarter, including the game-winning touchdown with 2:47 remaining. The Panthers opened the season with a win over Valparaiso on Aug. 31. UNI has controlled the line of scrimmage through two games, averaging 298.5 rushing yards per game, while allowing just 79.0 rushing yards per contest. The Panthers are ranked No. 21 in this week's FCS coaches poll.
HUSKERS TAKE ON FCS FOE IN PANTHERS
Saturday's game is the first all-time meeting between Nebraska and Northern Iowa. It will mark Nebraska's 15th game all-time against an FCS foe (at time of the game), with the Huskers holding a 14-0 record in those contests.
- In 2022, Nebraska defeated North Dakota, 38-17, in its most recent matchup with an FCS opponent
- All of Nebraska's games against FCS opponents have occurred since 1992, including facing an FCS opponent for five straight seasons from 2010 to 2014
- Northern Iowa is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Huskers are 19-1-2 all-time against current members of the MVFC, including 2-0 vs. North Dakota, 14-1-2 vs. South Dakota and 3-0 vs. South Dakota State. The majority of those games occurred before those schools moved to the FCS ranks.
Nebraska's matchup with Northern Iowa is the second of three consecutive prime-time home games at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska hosted Colorado last week in a prime-time game, plays UNI this Saturday and will host Illinois on Friday, Sept. 20 in a night game in Lincoln.
- This marks just the third time in school history the Huskers have played three straight home night games. Nebraska also hosted three consecutive prime-time games in 2008 (New Mexico State, Virginia Tech, Missouri) and 2002 (Arizona State, Troy, Utah State).
- Nebraska has a strong history of success in night games in Lincoln. The Huskers are 51-10 in home night games at Memorial Stadium following last week's 28-10 victory over Colorado.
HUSKERS RETURN TO NATIONAL POLLS
Nebraska is 2-0 following victories over UTEP and Colorado and the fast start has vaulted the Huskers back into the national polls. NU is ranked 23rd in this week's AP Poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
- The national ranking is Nebraska's first since 2019. The Huskers were ranked No. 25 in both polls after the season opener, but lost the following week at Colorado.
- The last time Nebraska was ranked higher than this week's No. 23 AP ranking was in 2016, when Nebraska was ranked 17th entering the regular-season finale at Iowa.
NEBRASKA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT 2024 CLASS
Nebraska will honor the 2024 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Class with an on-field recognition before Saturday's game. Seven Husker football standouts and a state college All-American comprise the 2024 class of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, which will be officially inducted in a reception on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
The seven former Huskers include defensive lineman Monte Johnson (Legends category), offensive lineman Keven Lightner (1980s category), safety Tyrone Byrd (1990s), linebacker Terrell Farley (1990s), defensive end Chris Kelsay (2000-07 era), defensive tackle Jared Crick (2008-14 era) and running back Rex Burkhead (2008-14 era). The state college representative in the 2024 class is Mike Miller, an All-America running back at Nebraska-Kearney in the early 2000s.
To be eligible, players must have been either an All-American or first (before 1996) or second-team (after 1996) all-conference selection to make the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame ballot.
ABOUT NORTHERN IOWA
Northern Iowa has fielded a football team since 1895, and the Panthers have tallied nearly 700 wins as a program. UNI has claimed 33 conference titles, with two Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, 12 North Central Conference titles, three Association of Mid-Continent Universities championships and 16 Missouri Valley Conference championships. The Panthers have reached the FCS playoffs 22 times, posting a 24-22 record in 46 games.
First Year: 1895
All-Time Record: 698-441-47
Conference Titles: 33
National Titles: 0
Stadium: UNI Dome
Capacity: 16,324
Surface: Artificial Turf
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Enrollment: 9,021
Colors: Purple & Old Gold
ABOUT 2024 UNI FOOTBALL
Northern Iowa opened the 2024 season with victories against Valparaiso and St. Thomas to move the Panthers to 2-0. UNI is ranked No. 21 in this week's FCS Coaches Poll.
The Panthers are averaging 26 points and 406 yards per game, with 107.5 yards per game through the air and 298.5 yards per game on the ground. Aidan Dunne has completed 23-of-42 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Sergio Morancy leads the Panthers with five receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown. Layne Pryor has added five grabs for 51 yards and a score.
Tye Edwards is third in the FCS ranks by averaging 157.5 yards per game, while averaging 10 yards per carry. Amauri Pesek-Hickson has carried the ball 30 times for 186 yards and two scores.
Defensively, the Panthers are allowing 8.5 points and 217 yards per game this season. Jonathan Cabral-Martin leads the UNI defense with a team-high 20 tackles, folowed by Ben Belken with 15 stops. Tucker Langenberg has a team-high three tackles for loss, while Zach Mehmert leads the Panthers with 1.5 sacks through two games.
ABOUT UNI COACH MARK FARLEY
Farley is the winningest coach in UNI and Missouri Valley Football Conference history, with 182 wins, including 17 playoff victories.
Farley has led the Panthers to a mark of 182-103 in his 24 years at the helm of the program, second-most all-time among all active FCS coaches. In MVFC play, he has guided the Panthers to a record of 116-59 for an impressive .663 winning percentage. Farley is the MVFC's all-time coaching wins leader.
Under the helm of Coach Farley, the Panthers have won at least a share of seven MVFC titles. UNI has had 13 playoff appearances, advancing to the FCS quarterfinals in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, the FCS Semifinals in 2001 and 2008 and the FCS national championship game in 2005. Farley's teams have finished in the Top 25 final rankings 16 times. The Panthers defeated 92 Top 25 ranked foes under Farley.
The 61-year-old Farley, who has never faced Nebraska in his career, is a native of Waukon, Iowa and is a 1985 graduate of Northern Iowa. Prior to his hire at UNI in 2001 he spent time as a grad assistant coach at Northern Iowa (1986-1988), linebackers coach at UNI (1989-96), and linebackers coach at Kansas (1997-2000).
#21 (FCS) NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS (2-0) | at | #23/#24 NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (2-0) |
| SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 14 6:30 PM (CT) | 
|
| 
| 
|
WHEN: Saturday, September 14 | 6:30 PM (CT)
WHERE: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, Nebraska
TV: Big Ten Network (Guy Haberman, Yogi Roth, Rhett Lewis)
RADIO: Huskers Radio Network (Greg Sharpe, Damon Benning, Jessica Coody)
Pre-Post Game Show: Matt Coatney, Jessica Coody, Ben McLaughlin, Tommy Armstrong Jr.
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS
3 - A win on Saturday over UNI would give Nebraska a perfect 3-0 record in non-conference play. Nebraska last went undefeated in non-league action in 2016, and since 2000 also posted perfect non-conference records in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011 and 2014.
14 - The Nebraska defense has held the opposition to 14 or fewer points in six consecutive home games, including 2024 wins over UTEP and Colorado. Under Matt Rhule, Nebraska has held eight of nine opponents at Memorial Stadium to 14 or fewer points.
23 - Nebraska is ranked No. 23 in this week's Associated Press Poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches poll. It marks the first time Nebraska has been ranked in either poll since before the second game of the 2019 season.
HUSKERS
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Big Ten)
Last Game: vs. Colorado (W 28-10)
Rankings: #23 (AP) | #24 (Coaches)
Head Coach: Matt Rhule (54-50, 9th year overall | 7-7, 2nd year at Nebraska | 0-0 vs. UNI)
PANTHERS
Record: 2-0 (0-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference)
Last Game: at St. Thomas (W 17-10)
Rankings: #21 (FCS Coaches)
Head Coach: Mark Farley (182-103, 24th year overall | 182-103, 24th year at UNI | 0-0 vs. Nebraska)
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and Northern Iowa.
THE MATCHUP
Nebraska completes non-conference play on Saturday night when the Huskers take on the Northern Iowa Panthers at Memorial Stadium. The first meeting between the schools is set to kick off shortly after 6:30 p.m. BTN will provide the national television coverage and the game can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network and Huskers App.
The Huskers come into the contest at 2-0 after a 28-10 victory over Colorado in an electric environment in Memorial Stadium last Saturday. Nebraska jumped to a 28-0 halftime lead behind a dominant defensive effort and cruised to the win to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2016. The win also vaulted Nebraska into the national polls at No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches poll.
Through two games, the Huskers have shown the ability to control the clock with a balanced offensive attack. Nebraska is averaging 186.0 yards per game on the ground, while throwing for 234.5 yards per game. The Blackshirt defense has limited opponents to just 36.0 rushing yards through two contests, while holding both opponents to 10 points or less. The Huskers have also won the turnover margin through two games, committing just one turnover in two contests, while forcing two takeaways against both UTEP and Colorado.
Northern Iowa also enters Saturday's game with a 2-0 record after a 17-10 victory at St. Thomas (Minn.) on Saturday. UNI trailed 10-7 entering the fourth quarter but scored 10 points in the final quarter, including the game-winning touchdown with 2:47 remaining. The Panthers opened the season with a win over Valparaiso on Aug. 31. UNI has controlled the line of scrimmage through two games, averaging 298.5 rushing yards per game, while allowing just 79.0 rushing yards per contest. The Panthers are ranked No. 21 in this week's FCS coaches poll.
HUSKERS TAKE ON FCS FOE IN PANTHERS
Saturday's game is the first all-time meeting between Nebraska and Northern Iowa. It will mark Nebraska's 15th game all-time against an FCS foe (at time of the game), with the Huskers holding a 14-0 record in those contests.
- In 2022, Nebraska defeated North Dakota, 38-17, in its most recent matchup with an FCS opponent
- All of Nebraska's games against FCS opponents have occurred since 1992, including facing an FCS opponent for five straight seasons from 2010 to 2014
- Northern Iowa is a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Huskers are 19-1-2 all-time against current members of the MVFC, including 2-0 vs. North Dakota, 14-1-2 vs. South Dakota and 3-0 vs. South Dakota State. The majority of those games occurred before those schools moved to the FCS ranks.
Nebraska vs. FCS (since 1992)
1994: Nebraska 70, Pacific 21
1995: Nebraska 49, Pacific 7
2002: Nebraska 38, McNeese State 14
2004: Nebraska 56, Western Illinois 17
2005: Nebraska 25, Maine 7
2006: Nebraska 56, Nicholls State 7
2010: Nebraska 17, South Dakota State 3
2011: Nebraska 40, Chattanooga 7
2012: Nebraska 73, Idaho State 7
2013: Nebraska 59, South Dakota State 20
2014: Nebraska 31, McNeese State 24
2018: Nebraska 45, Bethune-Cookman 9
2021: Nebraska 52, Fordham 7
2022: Nebraska 38, North Dakota 17
HUSKERS SET TO SHINE UNDER THE LIGHTSNebraska's matchup with Northern Iowa is the second of three consecutive prime-time home games at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska hosted Colorado last week in a prime-time game, plays UNI this Saturday and will host Illinois on Friday, Sept. 20 in a night game in Lincoln.
- This marks just the third time in school history the Huskers have played three straight home night games. Nebraska also hosted three consecutive prime-time games in 2008 (New Mexico State, Virginia Tech, Missouri) and 2002 (Arizona State, Troy, Utah State).
- Nebraska has a strong history of success in night games in Lincoln. The Huskers are 51-10 in home night games at Memorial Stadium following last week's 28-10 victory over Colorado.
HUSKERS RETURN TO NATIONAL POLLS
Nebraska is 2-0 following victories over UTEP and Colorado and the fast start has vaulted the Huskers back into the national polls. NU is ranked 23rd in this week's AP Poll and 24th in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
- The national ranking is Nebraska's first since 2019. The Huskers were ranked No. 25 in both polls after the season opener, but lost the following week at Colorado.
- The last time Nebraska was ranked higher than this week's No. 23 AP ranking was in 2016, when Nebraska was ranked 17th entering the regular-season finale at Iowa.
NEBRASKA FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT 2024 CLASS
Nebraska will honor the 2024 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Class with an on-field recognition before Saturday's game. Seven Husker football standouts and a state college All-American comprise the 2024 class of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, which will be officially inducted in a reception on Friday night at Memorial Stadium.
The seven former Huskers include defensive lineman Monte Johnson (Legends category), offensive lineman Keven Lightner (1980s category), safety Tyrone Byrd (1990s), linebacker Terrell Farley (1990s), defensive end Chris Kelsay (2000-07 era), defensive tackle Jared Crick (2008-14 era) and running back Rex Burkhead (2008-14 era). The state college representative in the 2024 class is Mike Miller, an All-America running back at Nebraska-Kearney in the early 2000s.
To be eligible, players must have been either an All-American or first (before 1996) or second-team (after 1996) all-conference selection to make the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame ballot.
ABOUT NORTHERN IOWA
Northern Iowa has fielded a football team since 1895, and the Panthers have tallied nearly 700 wins as a program. UNI has claimed 33 conference titles, with two Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, 12 North Central Conference titles, three Association of Mid-Continent Universities championships and 16 Missouri Valley Conference championships. The Panthers have reached the FCS playoffs 22 times, posting a 24-22 record in 46 games.
First Year: 1895
All-Time Record: 698-441-47
Conference Titles: 33
National Titles: 0
Stadium: UNI Dome
Capacity: 16,324
Surface: Artificial Turf
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Enrollment: 9,021
Colors: Purple & Old Gold
ABOUT 2024 UNI FOOTBALL
Northern Iowa opened the 2024 season with victories against Valparaiso and St. Thomas to move the Panthers to 2-0. UNI is ranked No. 21 in this week's FCS Coaches Poll.
The Panthers are averaging 26 points and 406 yards per game, with 107.5 yards per game through the air and 298.5 yards per game on the ground. Aidan Dunne has completed 23-of-42 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Sergio Morancy leads the Panthers with five receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown. Layne Pryor has added five grabs for 51 yards and a score.
Tye Edwards is third in the FCS ranks by averaging 157.5 yards per game, while averaging 10 yards per carry. Amauri Pesek-Hickson has carried the ball 30 times for 186 yards and two scores.
Defensively, the Panthers are allowing 8.5 points and 217 yards per game this season. Jonathan Cabral-Martin leads the UNI defense with a team-high 20 tackles, folowed by Ben Belken with 15 stops. Tucker Langenberg has a team-high three tackles for loss, while Zach Mehmert leads the Panthers with 1.5 sacks through two games.
ABOUT UNI COACH MARK FARLEY
Farley is the winningest coach in UNI and Missouri Valley Football Conference history, with 182 wins, including 17 playoff victories.
Farley has led the Panthers to a mark of 182-103 in his 24 years at the helm of the program, second-most all-time among all active FCS coaches. In MVFC play, he has guided the Panthers to a record of 116-59 for an impressive .663 winning percentage. Farley is the MVFC's all-time coaching wins leader.
Under the helm of Coach Farley, the Panthers have won at least a share of seven MVFC titles. UNI has had 13 playoff appearances, advancing to the FCS quarterfinals in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, the FCS Semifinals in 2001 and 2008 and the FCS national championship game in 2005. Farley's teams have finished in the Top 25 final rankings 16 times. The Panthers defeated 92 Top 25 ranked foes under Farley.
The 61-year-old Farley, who has never faced Nebraska in his career, is a native of Waukon, Iowa and is a 1985 graduate of Northern Iowa. Prior to his hire at UNI in 2001 he spent time as a grad assistant coach at Northern Iowa (1986-1988), linebackers coach at UNI (1989-96), and linebackers coach at Kansas (1997-2000).
