UNI Panthers finish season ranked sixth in D-1 Football Championship Subdivision

CEDAR FALLS – The University of Northern Iowa football program has finished the season ranked in the Top10 in the D-1 Football Championship Subdivision for the eighth time since 2001, it was announced this week.

The Panthers jumped to  No. 6 in the FCS Coaches Final Poll and No. 8 in the STATS FCS Final Poll after the 2015 season concluded this past weekend. It marks the eighth time in the last 15 seasons that UNI has been ranked in the Top 10 and the 12th time that UNI has landed in the Top 25 since 2001.

UNI has 79 wins over Top 25-ranked opponents and 20 over the Top 10 since head coach Mark Farley took the reins in 2001. Seven of those Top-10 wins have come in the last three seasons defeating No. 9 McNeese State (9/28/13), No. 9 Youngstown State (11/9/13), No. 6 Illinois State (11/1/14), No. 1 North Dakota State (11/8/14), No. 7 Eastern Washington (9/12/15), No. 6 South Dakota State (10/24/15) and No. 5 Portland State (12/5/15).

The Panthers finished 2015 9-5 overall after advancing to the FCS Playoffs for the 18th time in school history and the 13th quarterfinal game appearance for the Purple and Old Gold. UNI wrapped up the season with five All-Americans and 14 All-Conference selections.

UNI has 121 wins over FCS opponents since 2001, coming away with a record of 121-46 since Farley took the helm, giving them a .724 percentage in the victory column. The Panthers also lead the Valley in wins since 2001, posting a record of 78-34 for an impressive .696 winning percentage in league play.

UNI celebrated the 40th year in the UNI-Dome this year with its 200th win inside the building. The Panthers are 201-51-1 all-time inside the Dome. UNI is 129-61 under the direction of Farley, with 78 wins coming against the Valley, the most in league history.

UNI in the Top 25 Since 2015

2015: Coaches Poll – 6th, STATS Poll – 8th

2014: Coaches Poll – 10th, Sports Network Poll – 10th

2013: Not Ranked

2012: Not Ranked

2011: Coaches Poll – 5th, Sports Network Poll – 6th

2010: Coaches Poll – 18th, Sports Network Poll – 19th

2009: Coaches Poll – 18th, Sports Network Poll – 18th

2008: AFCA Poll – 4th, Sports Network Poll – 4th

2007: AFCA Poll – 5th, Sports Network Poll – 4th

2006: CSN Poll – 19th, Sports Network Poll – 17th

2005: ESPN Poll – 2nd, Sports Network Poll – 2nd

2004: ESPN Poll – 25th, Sports Network Poll – 25th

2003: ESPN Poll – 6th, Sports Network Poll – 5th

2002: Not Ranked

2001: ESPN Poll – 4th, Sports Network Poll – 4th