# List of Northern Iowa Panthers football seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Northern Iowa Panthers football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Panthers fielded their first team in 1895 with no head coach designated. The first head coach was Fred Wolff and currently is Mark Farley.
There was no football team fielded during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because it was deemed "...too severe to be played at the institution." Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II.

## Seasons

Legend :
* $^†$ National Champions
* $^‡$ Conference Champions
* ^ Bowl game berth
* * Playoff berth
| Season | Coach | Conference | Season results | Season results | Season results | Season results | Bowl/Playoff result | Final ranking | Final ranking | Final ranking |
| Season | Coach | Conference | Conference finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | Bowl/Playoff result | NCAA/TSN Poll | Coaches Poll |
| Iowa State Normal School Normals |||||||||||
| 1895 | No coach | Independent | — | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1896 | No coach | Independent | — | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1897 | Fred Wolff | Independent | — | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | | |
| 1898 | Kalita E. Leighton | Independent | — | 4 | 0 | 1 | — | | |
| 1899 | George Sweetland | Independent | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | | |
| 1900 | Fred A. Williams | Independent | — | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | | |
| 1901 | George B. Affleck | Independent | — | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | | |
| 1902 | Charles Pell | Independent | — | 1 | 6 | 1 | — | | |
| 1903 | Charles Pell | Independent | — | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1904 | Charles Pell | Independent | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1905 | Charles Pell | Independent | — | 5 | 3 | 2 | — | | |
| 1906 | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board |
| 1907 | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because of the Normal Athletic Board |
| 1908 | Clayton B. Simmons | Independent | — | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | | |
| 1909 | Clayton B. Simmons | Independent | — | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | | |
| Iowa State Teachers College Tutors/Panthers |||||||||||
| 1910 | James Owen Perrine | Independent | — | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | | |
| 1911 | Pat Pasini | Independent | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | | |
| 1912 | Pat Pasini | Independent | — | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | | |
| 1913 | Allen P. Berkstresser | Independent | — | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1914 | Allen P. Berkstresser | Independent | — | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | | |
| 1915 | Allen P. Berkstresser | Independent | — | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1916 | Allen P. Berkstresser | Independent | — | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | | |
| 1917 | James Owen Perrine | Independent | — | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1918 | Russell Glaesner | Independent | — | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1919 | Ivan Doseff | Independent | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | | |
| 1920 | Ivan Doseff | Independent | — | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | | |
| 1921 | Leland L. Mendenhall | Independent | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | | |
| 1922 | Leland L. Mendenhall | Independent | — | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1923 | Leland L. Mendenhall | IIAC | | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1924 | Leland L. Mendenhall | IIAC | | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1925 | Paul F. Bender | IIAC | | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | | |
| 1926 | Paul F. Bender | IIAC | | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1927$^‡$ | Paul F. Bender | IIAC | 1st | 7 | 0 | 1 | — | | |
| 1928$^‡$ | Paul F. Bender | IIAC | ?1st | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | | |
| 1929 | Paul F. Bender | IIAC | | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1930 | Lawrence W. Whitford | IIAC | | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | | |
| 1931 | Lawrence W. Whitford | IIAC | | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1932 | Lawrence W. Whitford | IIAC | | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1933 | John Baker | IIAC | | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1934 | John Baker | IIAC | | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | | |
| 1935 | Thomas Johnson | NCC | | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | | |
| 1936 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 6th | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | | |
| 1937 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | T-3rd | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | | |
| 1938 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 7th | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1939 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1940$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 1st | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | | |
| 1941$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 1st | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1942$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 1st | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | | |
| 1943 | Clyde Starbeck | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II |
| 1944 | Clyde Starbeck | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II | Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II |
| 1945 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | — | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1946$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 1st | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | | |
| 1947$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | T-1st♦ | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1948$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 1st | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1949$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | T-1st♦ | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1950 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | T-2nd | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1951 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 3rd | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1952$^‡$ | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 1st | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1953 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 2nd | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1954 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | T-3rd | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1955 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 2nd | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | | |
| 1956 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 7th | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | | |
| 1957 | Clyde Starbeck | NCC | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1958 | Bill Hammer | NCC | 7th | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1959 | Bill Hammer | NCC | T-4th | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1960$^‡$^ | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-1st♦ | 9 | 1 | 0 | Lost Mineral Water Bowl vs. Hillsdale College, 17-6 | | |
| Stan Sheriff |||||||||||
| 1961$^‡$ | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-1st♦ | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | | |
| 1962$^‡$ | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-1st♦ | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | | |
| 1963 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1964$^‡$^ | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-1st♦ | 9 | 2 | 0 | Won Pecan Bowl vs. Lamar Tech, 19-17 | | |
| 1965 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | 3rd | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1966 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | 3rd | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1967 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | 2nd | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1968 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-3rd | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| Stan Sheriff |||||||||||
| 1969 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | 2nd | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1970 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-6th | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | | |
| 1971 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-2nd | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1972 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-4th | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1973 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | 7th | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1974 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-5th | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | | |
| 1975* | Stan Sheriff | NCC | 2nd | 9 | 3 | 0 | Quarterfinals Division II playoffs | | |
| 1976 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | 3rd | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | | |
| 1977 | Stan Sheriff | NCC | T-2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1978 | Stan Sheriff | AMCU | 6th | 2 | 9 | 0 | — | | |
| 1979 | Stan Sheriff | AMCU | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1980 | Stan Sheriff | AMCU | 3rd | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | | |
| 1981$^‡$ | Stan Sheriff | AMCU | T-1st♦ | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1982$^‡$ | Stan Sheriff | AMCU | T-1st♦ | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | | |
| 1983 | Darrell Mudra | AMCU | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | | |
| 1984$^‡$ | Darrell Mudra | AMCU | T-1st♦ | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | |
| 1985$^‡$* | Darrell Mudra | GFC | 1st | 11 | 2 | 0 | Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs | 4 | |
| 1986 | Darrell Mudra | GFC | T-2nd | 7 | 3 | 1 | — | | |
| 1987$^‡$* | Darrell Mudra | GFC | 1st | 10 | 4 | 0 | Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs | 4 | |
| 1988 | Earle Bruce | GFC | 4th | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | | |
| 1989 | Terry Allen | GFC | T-2nd | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | 20 | |
| 1990$^‡$* | Terry Allen | GFC | T–1st♦ | 8 | 4 | 0 | First Round Division I-AA playoffs | 11 | |
| 1991$^‡$* | Terry Allen | GFC | 1st | 11 | 2 | 0 | Quarterfinals Division I-AA playoffs | 4 | |
| 1992$^‡$* | Terry Allen | GFC | 1st | 12 | 2 | 0 | Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs | 3 | |
| 1993$^‡$* | Terry Allen | GFC | 1st | 8 | 4 | 0 | First Round Division I-AA playoffs | 13 | |
| 1994$^‡$* | Terry Allen | GFC | 1st | 8 | 4 | 0 | First Round Division I-AA playoffs | 11 | |
| 1995$^‡$* | Terry Allen | GFC | T–1st♦ | 8 | 5 | 0 | Quarterfinals Division I-AA playoffs | 18 | |
| 1996$^‡$* | Terry Allen | GFC | 1st | 12 | 2 | — | Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs | 3 | |
| 1997 | Mike Dunbar | GFC | 2nd | 7 | 4 | — | — | | |
| 1998 | Mike Dunbar | GFC | T–3rd | 7 | 4 | — | — | 25 | |
| 1999 | Mike Dunbar | GFC | 3rd | 8 | 3 | — | — | 15 | |
| 2000 | Mike Dunbar | GFC | 4th | 7 | 4 | — | — | 19 | |
| 2001$^‡$* | Mark Farley | GFC | 1st | 11 | 3 | — | Semifinals Division I-AA playoffs | 4 | |
| 2002 | Mark Farley | GFC | T-6th | 5 | 6 | — | — | | |
| 2003$^‡$* | Mark Farley | GFC | T–1st♦ | 10 | 3 | — | Quarterfinals Division I-AA playoffs | 5 | |
| 2004 | Mark Farley | GFC | 3rd | 7 | 4 | — | — | 25 | |
| 2005$^‡$* | Mark Farley | GFC | T–1st♦ | 11 | 4 | — | Finals Division I-AA playoffs | 2 | |
| 2006 | Mark Farley | GFC | T–2nd | 7 | 4 | — | — | 17 | |
| 2007$^‡$* | Mark Farley | GFC | 1st | 12 | 1 | — | Quarterfinals Division I FCS playoffs | 4 | 5 |
| 2008$^‡$* | Mark Farley | MVFC | T–1st♦ | 12 | 3 | — | Semifinals Division I FCS playoffs | 4 | 4 |
| 2009 | Mark Farley | MVFC | T–3rd | 7 | 4 | — | — | 18 | 18 |
| 2010$^‡$* | Mark Farley | MVFC | 1st | 7 | 5 | — | First Round Division I FCS playoffs | 19 | 18 |
| 2011$^‡$* | Mark Farley | MVFC | T–1st♦ | 10 | 3 | — | Quarterfinals Division I FCS playoffs | 6 | 5 |
| 2012 | Mark Farley | MVFC | T–6th | 5 | 6 | — | — | RV | — |
| 2013 | Mark Farley | MVFC | T–7th | 7 | 5 | — | — | RV | RV |
| 2014* | Mark Farley | MVFC | 3rd | 9 | 5 | — | Second Round Division I FCS playoffs | | |
| 2015* | Mark Farley | MVFC | T–3rd | 9 | 5 | — | Quarterfinals Division I FCS playoffs | 8 | 6 |
| 2016 | Mark Farley | MVFC | T–4th | 5 | 6 | — | — | RV | — |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 632 | 390 | 47 | (only includes regular season games) | (only includes regular season games) | (only includes regular season games) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 1 | 1 | — | (only includes bowl games; 2 appearances) | (only includes bowl games; 2 appearances) | (only includes bowl games; 2 appearances) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 22 | 19 | — | (only includes playoff games; 19 appearances) | (only includes playoff games; 19 appearances) | (only includes playoff games; 19 appearances) |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 655 | 410 | 47 | (all games) | (all games) | (all games) |
| ♦ Denotes a tie for first place and conference co-champion ||||||||||

## Bowl results

| Season | Date | Bowl | Opponent | Result | Site | Attendance |
| 1960 | November 26 | Mineral Water Bowl | Hillsdale College | L 17-6 | Excelsior Springs, Missouri | |
| 1964 | December 12 | Pecan Bowl | Lamar Tech | W 19-17 | Abilene, Texas | |

## Playoff results

Any playoff appearance prior to 1978 was in the NCAA Division II playoffs. All subsequent appearances were in Division I-AA, now known as Football Championship Subdivision. When Division I-AA was formed for football in 1978, the playoffs included just four teams, doubling to eight teams in its fourth season of 1981. In 1982 the I-AA playoffs were expanded to 12 teams, with each of the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye and a home game in the quarterfinals. In its ninth season of 1986, the I-AA playoffs were expanded again, to the present 16-team format, requiring four post-season victories to win the title. In April 2008 the NCAA announced that the playoff field will again expand to include 20 teams beginning in 2010. The playoffs expanded to 24 teams starting in 2013.
| Season | Date | Round | UNI Seed | Opponent | Result | Site | Attendance |
| 1975 | November 29 | First | - | Western Kentucky | L 14-12 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 2,500 |
| 1985 | December 7 | Quarterfinals | 4 | Eastern Washington | W 17-14 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 6,220 |
| 1985 | December 14 | Semifinals | 4 | Georgia Southern | L 40-33 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 12,300 |
| 1987 | November 28 | First | 3 | Youngstown State | W 31-28 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 3,887 |
| 1987 | December 5 | Quarterfinals | 3 | Arkansas State | W 49-28 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 6,100 |
| 1987 | December 12 | Semifinals | 3 | Northeast Louisiana | L 44-41 OT | Monroe, Louisiana | 14,443 |
| 1990 | December 12 | First | 11 | Boise State | L 20-3 | Boise, Idaho | 11,691 |
| 1991 | November 30 | First | 3 | Weber State | W 38-21 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 8,723 |
| 1991 | December 7 | Quarterfinals | 3 | Marshall | L 41-13 | Huntington, West Virginia | 16,889 |
| 1992 | November 28 | First | 3 | Eastern Washington | W 17-14 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 13,149 |
| 1992 | December 5 | Quarterfinals | 3 | McNeese State | W 29-7 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 13,375 |
| 1992 | December 12 | Semifinals | 3 | Youngstown State | L 19-7 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 14,682 |
| 1993 | November 27 | First | 13 | Boston | L 27-21 2OT | Boston, Massachusetts | 6,882 |
| 1994 | November 28 | First | 11 | Montana | L 23-20 | Missoula, Montana | 7,958 |
| 1995 | November 25 | First | 16 | Murray State | W 35-34 | Murray, Kentucky | 7,633 |
| 1995 | December 3 | Quarterfinals | 16 | Marshall | L 41-24 | Huntington, West Virginia | 14,472 |
| 1996 | November 30 | First | 3 | Eastern Illinois | W 41-24 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 10,402 |
| 1996 | December 7 | Quarterfinals | 3 | William & Mary | W 38-35 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 10,796 |
| 1996 | December 14 | Semifinals | 3 | Marshall | L 31-14 | Huntington, West Virginia | 14,414 |
| 2001 | December 1 | First | - | Eastern Illinois | W 49-43 | Charleston, Illinois | 6,824 |
| 2001 | December 8 | Quarterfinals | - | Maine | W 56-28 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 9,525 |
| 2001 | December 15 | Semifinals | - | Montana | L 38-0 | Missoula, Montana | 18,848 |
| 2003 | November 29 | First | - | Montana State | W 35-14 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 10,165 |
| 2003 | December 2 | Quarterfinals | - | Delaware | L 37-7 | Newark, Delaware | 11,881 |
| 2005 | November 26 | First | - | Eastern Washington | W 41-38 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 7,746 |
| 2005 | December 2 | Quarterfinals | - | New Hampshire | W 24-21 | Durham, New Hampshire | 8,448 |
| 2005 | December 9 | Semifinals | - | Texas State | W 40-37 OT | San Marcos, Texas | 15,712 |
| 2005 | December 16 | Championship | - | Appalachian State | L 21-16 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | 20,236 |
| 2007 | November 24 | First | 1 | New Hampshire | W 38-35 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 16,015 |
| 2007 | December 1 | Quarterfinals | 1 | Delaware | L 39-27 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 15,803 |
| 2008 | November 29 | First | 3 | Maine | W 45-0 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 8,477 |
| 2008 | December 6 | Quarterfinals | 3 | New Hampshire | W 36-34 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 9,055 |
| 2008 | December 13 | Semifinals | 3 | Richmond | L 21-20 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 12,062 |
| 2010 | November 27 | First | - | Lehigh | L 14-7 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 5,990 |
| 2011 | December 3 | Second | 5 | Wofford | W 28-21 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 6,915 |
| 2011 | December 9 | Quarterfinals | 5 | Montana | L 48-10 | Missoula, Montana | 23,049 |
| 2014 | November 29 | First | - | Stephen F. Austin | W 44-10 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 10,307 |
| 2014 | December 6 | Second | - | Illinois State | L 41-21 | Normal, Illinois | 5,575 |
| 2015 | November 28 | First | - | Eastern Illinois | W 53-17 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | 7,062 |
| 2015 | December 3 | Second | - | Portland State | W 29-17 | Portland, Oregon | 8,022 |
| 2015 | December 12 | Quarterfinals | - | North Dakota State | L 23-13 | Fargo, North Dakota | 18,041 |