Northern Iowa Panthers

Northern Iowa predictions have had to account for two outright upsets at home: the Panthers beat Illinois State 28-21 as 19.5-point underdogs and North Dakota 24-17 as 13.5-point underdogs. At 3-3 they are fourth in the MVFC on ESPN.

Northern Iowa in 2026

The first two road games went the other way, 34-24 at Eastern Washington and 55-0 at Iowa, and neither covered; the 35-22 loss at Youngstown State on 17 October did, at +20.5. Against Drake the Panthers won 56-14 laying 11.5, for 4-2 against the spread.

Northern Iowa results

• at Eastern Washington, 5 Sep: lost 34-24; missed +7; over 52.5
• vs Drake, 12 Sep: won 56-14; covered -11.5; over 59.5
• at Iowa, 19 Sep: lost 55-0 (our prediction); missed +37.5; over 48.5
• vs Illinois State, 26 Sep: won 28-21; covered +19.5; under 58.5
• vs North Dakota, 10 Oct: won 24-17; covered +13.5; under 58.5
• at Youngstown State, 17 Oct: lost 35-22; covered +20.5; under 60.5

Northern Iowa schedule, Eastern times

• at Southern Illinois, 24 Oct, 2 PM
• vs Indiana State, 31 Oct, 2 PM
• vs South Dakota State, 7 Nov, 2 PM
• at South Dakota, 14 Nov, 2 PM
• at Murray State, 21 Nov, 2 PM

Northern Iowa in 2025

Last season Northern Iowa finished 3-9 and lost all eight games as underdogs, while still covering five of those eight; ten of the 12 games went under.