There is no avoiding that conversation any more for the Northern Iowa football team following its 26-16 win over No. 14 Illinois State Saturday inside the UNI-Dome.
The victory put the Panthers (5-4 overall, 4-2 Missouri Valley Football Conference) back on a path where a spot in the 24-team FCS field is conceivable.
Certainly, there is two potentially treacherous pitfalls left on UNI's schedule, starting with a trip to Youngstown State (3-6, 2-4) next Saturday to play a Penguins team coming of perhaps their best game of the season in a 17-7 loss to No. 1 North Dakota State.