2007 Northern Iowa Panthers football
Gateway co-champion
NCAA Division I Quarterfinal, L 27–39 vs. Delaware
Conference	Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 4^[1]
FCS Coaches	No. 5^[2]
Record	12–1 (6–0 Gateway)
Head coach	Mark Farley (7th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Bill Salmon (7th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Mario Verduzco (2nd season)
Home stadium	UNI-Dome
Seasons ← 2006 2008 →

2007 Gateway Football Conference standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 4 Northern Iowa $^	6	–	0	12	–	1
No. 3 Southern Illinois ^	5	–	1	12	–	2
No. 16 Youngstown State	3	–	3	7	–	4
Western Illinois	3	–	3	6	–	5
Missouri State	2	–	4	6	–	5
Illinois State	2	–	4	4	–	7
Indiana State	0	–	6	0	–	11

$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2007 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was coached by Mark Farley and played their home games in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers clinched a share of the Gateway Football Conference and a playoff berth with a win against Missouri State on November 3.

Facts

The Panthers moved into the top spot in The Sports Network's FCS Top 25 poll on October 15. It marked the first time the Panthers had been perched in the No. 1 spot in the nation since the Sports Network's poll on November 5, 1992.^[3]
On November 19, UNI became the consensus No. 1-ranked team in the nation after taking over the top spot in the FCS Coaches poll.
On November 8, Northern Iowa was ranked 30th in the nation in the Sagarin ratings. The Sagarin ratings take into account all members of Division I football.^[4]
UNI became the first-ever Gateway Football Conference school to win all six of its regular season road contests in a single season.
University of Northern Iowa (11–0) topped the bracket as the top seed after capturing the automatic qualifying berth from the Gateway Football Conference. The Panthers are making their 13th tournament appearance.^[5]
For the first time in school history the University of Northern Iowa football team drew a seed for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.^[6]
In scoring its first win over Iowa State since 1994, UNI improved its record against teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) to 9–15 since 1985.^[3]
On November 18, Northern Iowa received points in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. They received 1 point; that vote came from Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle.^[7] The Panthers became the second FCS school to receive votes in the poll, following Appalachian State who had received up to 19 votes earlier in the season.
In 23 years of league play, UNI has now captured at least a share of the Gateway Football Conference title in 13 of those seasons with nine of those being outright championships.
UNI completed the first-ever perfect regular season in the 23-year history of the Gateway Football Conference with a record of 11–0. UNI's 6–0 mark in Gateway play marked the ninth time in league history a team went undefeated against conference competition. It was the fifth time UNI has completed Gateway play with an unblemished record.
OL Chad Rinehart was named to the Senior Bowl North team.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 30	7:05 pm	Minnesota State*	No. 9	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA		W 41–14	15,056
September 8	6:00 pm	at Iowa State*	No. 7	Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA		W 24–13	56,795
September 15	7:00 pm	at South Dakota State*	No. 5	Coughlin-Alumni Stadium Brookings, SD		W 31–17	10,844
September 22	4:00 pm	at Drake*	No. 4	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	Mediacom	W 45–7	10,216
September 29	1:30 pm	at No. 16 Illinois State	No. 3	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL		W 23–13	10,473	^[8]
October 13	4:05 pm	Southern Illinois	No. 2	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	Mediacom/CFU	W 30–24	17,074	^[9]
October 20	6:35 pm	at Western Illinois	No. 1	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	FSNM/FCS/MS-KC/CFU	W 42–3	15,330	^[10]
October 27	4:05 pm	Youngstown State	No. 1	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	KFXA/KDSM/WFMJ/FCS/MS-KC	W 14–13	16,528
November 3	1:00 pm	at Missouri State	No. 1	Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	Mediacom	W 38–17	10,590
November 10	5:05 pm	Indiana State	No. 1	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	CFU	W 68–14	16,624
November 17	5:05 pm	Southern Utah*	No. 1	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	CFU	W 48–10	15,724
November 24	6:35 pm	New Hampshire*	No. 1	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA (NCAA Division I First Round)	Mediacom/CFU	W 38–35	16,015
December 1	1:00 pm	Delaware*	No. 1	UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal)	ESPNGP/Mediacom/CFU	L 27–39	15,803
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
The Sports Network	9^[11]	7^[12]	5	4^[13]	3	2^[14]	2^[15]	1^[16]	1^[17]	1^[18]	1^[19]	1^[20]	1^[21]	N/A	N/A	N/A	4^[1]
FCS Coaches	9^[22]	7^[23]	5^[24]	5^[25]	4^[26]	4^[27]	3^[28]	2^[29]	2^[30]	2^[31]	2^[32]	2^[33]	1^[34]	N/A	N/A	N/A	5^[2]
AP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	38^[35]	—	—	—

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Year at Northern Iowa	Alma Mater (Year)
Mark Farley	Head coach	7th	Northern Iowa (1987)
Rick Nelson	Recruiting coordinator Offensive Line	8th	Northern Iowa (1984)
Bill Salmon	Associate head coach Offensive coordinator Receivers	7th	Northern Iowa (1980)
Mario Verduzco	Co-offensive coordinator Quarterbacks	7th	San José State (1988)
Atif Austin	Running backs	3rd	Iowa State (2003)
Scott Frost	Linebackers	1st	Nebraska (1997)
Chris Klieman	Secondary	2nd	Northern Iowa (1990)
Jerry Montgomery	Defensive line	2nd	Iowa (2001)
Keith Harms	Defensive assistant	4th	Buena Vista (1979)
Erik Chinander	Tight ends	4th	Iowa (2003)

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
Chad Rinehart	Tackle	3	96	Washington Redskins
Brandon Keith	Tackle	7	225	Arizona Cardinals

^[36]

References

^ ^a ^b "Sports Network's Final 2007 FCS College Football Poll". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
^ ^a ^b "2007 FCS Coaches Poll". Archived from the original on August 26, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2009.
^ ^a ^b "#1 UNI to Take on No. 17 New Hampshire in NCAA FCS Playoffs". University of Northern Iowa Department of Athletics. November 19, 2007. Archived from the original on November 22, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
^ "UNI Ranked No. 30 in Sagarin Ratings". University of Northern Iowa Department of Athletics. November 8, 2007. Archived from the original on December 28, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
^ "2007 Championship Field Announced". National Collegiate Athletic Association. November 18, 2007. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
^ "#1 UNI Draws New Hampshire in First Round of NCAA FCS Playoffs". University of Northern Iowa Department of Athletics. November 18, 2007. Archived from the original on November 21, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
^ Associated Press (November 18, 2007). "2007 NCAA Football Rankings – Week 12 (Nov. 18)". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
^ Newhoff, Doug (September 30, 2007). "Sweet September". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. p. B1. Retrieved October 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Newhoff, Doug (October 14, 2007). "Collared". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. p. C1. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Newhoff, Doug (October 21, 2007). "Seventh heaven". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. p. C1. Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "UNI Ranked No. 9 in FCS Sports Network Preseason Poll". University of Northern Iowa Department of Athletics. August 16, 2007. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
^ "UNI Begins Long September Road Trip at Iowa State". University of Northern Iowa Department of Athletics. October 4, 2007. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2010.
^ "Cowboys Move Up in National Rankings". McNeese State University Department of Athletics. October 17, 2007. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "North Dakota State Football Moves Up to No. 2 in FCS Coaches Top 25, No. 3 in The Sports Network Poll". University of North Dakota Department of Athletics. October 1, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "Montana Maintains No. 1 The Sports Network Ranking; Bison Remain No. 3". University of North Dakota Department of Athletics. October 8, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 15, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 15, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 22, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 22, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 29, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 29, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – November 3, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. November 3, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – November 10, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. November 10, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – November 17, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. November 17, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – August 20, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. August 20, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – September 3, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. September 3, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – September 10, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. September 10, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – September 17, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. September 17, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – September 24, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. September 24, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 1, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 1, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 8, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 8, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 15, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 15, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 22, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 22, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – October 29, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. October 29, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – November 3, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. November 3, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – November 10, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. November 10, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "SoCon Football Notebook – November 17, 2007" (PDF). Southern Conference. November 17, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "College Football FBS AP Top 25". ESPN. November 18, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2010.
^ "2008 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on May 1, 2008.

v t e Northern Iowa Panthers football
Venues	O. R. Latham Stadium (1936–1975) UNI-Dome (1976–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Drake
Culture & lore	"UNI Fight"
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
Seasons	1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906–1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Gateway Football Conference / Missouri Valley Football Conference champions

Northern Iowa (1985)
Eastern Illinois (1986)
Northern Iowa (1987)
Western Illinois (1988)
Southwest Missouri State (1989)
Southwest Missouri State & Northern Iowa (1990)
Northern Iowa (1991)
Northern Iowa (1992)
Northern Iowa (1993)
Northern Iowa (1994)
Eastern Illinois & Northern Iowa (1995)
Northern Iowa (1996)
Western Illinois (1997)
Western Illinois (1998)
Illinois State (1999)
Western Illinois (2000)
Northern Iowa (2001)
Western Illinois & Western Kentucky (2002)
Northern Iowa & Southern Illinois (2003)
Southern Illinois (2004)
Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois & Youngstown State (2005)
Youngstown State (2006)
Northern Iowa (2007)
Northern Iowa & Southern Illinois (2008)
Southern Illinois (2009)
Northern Iowa (2010)
North Dakota State & Northern Iowa (2011)
North Dakota State (2012)
North Dakota State (2013)
Illinois State & North Dakota State (2014)
Illinois State & North Dakota State (2015)
North Dakota State & South Dakota State (2016)
North Dakota State (2017)
North Dakota State (2018)
North Dakota State (2019)
Missouri State & South Dakota State (2020)
North Dakota State (2021)
South Dakota State (2022)
South Dakota State (2023)

National championships in bold

v t e 2007 NCAA Division I FCS playoff participants
Appalachian State Delaware Delaware State Eastern Illinois Eastern Kentucky Eastern Washington Fordham James Madison Massachusetts McNeese State Montana New Hampshire Northern Iowa Richmond Southern Illinois Wofford
Champion – Appalachian State Mountaineers