For the first time in 434 days, UNI Football will take the field to play. The Panthers host South Dakota State in a meeting of top-five teams. It is the sixth meeting of the two teams since 2017. UNI came from behind to beat South Dakota State 13-10 in the second round of the 2019 FCS playoffs. The Panthers fell in the next round of the playoffs to eventual runner-up James Madison.
• UNI is coming off of its fifth playoff appearance in six seasons. The Panthers won 10 games for the first time since 2011 and returned to the FCS quarterfinals for the first time since 2015.