CEDAR FALLS — One week after being shut out at Iowa, UNI football delivered a thunderous response Saturday, September 26, knocking off No. 3 Illinois State 28-21 in the UNI-Dome to open Missouri Valley Football Conference play.
Quarterback Jaxon Dailey accounted for three touchdowns, Xavier Terrell supplied a pivotal 43-yard scoring run, and the Panthers survived a late Redbird push to give the Family Weekend crowd a victory worth celebrating.
UNI improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play. It was the Panthers’ first victory over a top-five opponent since beating No. 3 Southern Illinois in 2021 and their first top-10 win since shutting out No. 9 North Dakota in 2023.
The turnaround came just seven days after Iowa handed UNI a bruising 55-0 defeat at Kinnick Stadium. Back on their home field, the Panthers never trailed.
Dailey puts Panthers in command
UNI opened with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 6:10. Kaleb Diers’ first collegiate reception, a 22-yard gain, helped set up Dailey’s six-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Price.
Illinois State answered with a 14-yard touchdown reception to tie the game at 7-7, but UNI took control before halftime.
Dailey connected with Kai Black for 18 yards before breaking loose for a 28-yard touchdown run, his fourth rushing score of the season, to put the Panthers ahead 14-7.
The defense then delivered a crucial stop. With Illinois State facing fourth-and-two at the UNI 19, Franz Reisz pressured the quarterback and Braden McShane broke up the pass.
UNI turned that stand into another touchdown. Dailey hit Jaiden Ellis-Lahey for a 50-yard gain, matching Ellis-Lahey’s career long, then escaped pressure and found Black for an 18-yard touchdown to stretch the lead to 21-7.
Illinois State threatened again before the break, but a mishandled pitch near the UNI end zone gave CJ Wade the first fumble recovery of his career. The Panthers carried their two-touchdown advantage into halftime.
Terrell answers, defense holds up
The Redbirds opened the second half with a 16-play, 92-yard touchdown drive that took 7:23 off the clock and cut UNI’s lead to 21-14.
Terrell supplied an emphatic answer.
The Panther running back raced 43 yards for his first touchdown of the season and UNI’s longest run of the year, restoring the margin to 28-14.
UNI had an opportunity to pull further away after Taj Hughes hauled in a 68-yard pass, but Illinois State stopped the Panthers on fourth-and-goal from the one.
The UNI defense responded by forcing a three-and-out. Later, after the Panthers missed a 53-yard field goal attempt wide left, the defense stopped Illinois State on downs again.
The Redbirds eventually scored to pull within 28-21, leaving UNI one final test.
Cyrus Courtney secured the ensuing onside kick with 2:20 remaining. Terrell then broke off an 11-yard run for the first down the Panthers needed to finish the upset.
Dailey completed 13 of 17 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns, adding his rushing score. Hughes led UNI with 80 receiving yards on three catches, while Terrell gained 80 yards and scored once on eight carries.
John Powers paced the defense with 12 tackles and a pass breakup.
Bye week comes before Homecoming showdown
UNI is off Saturday, October 3, before returning to the UNI-Dome on Saturday, October 10, to face North Dakota for Homecoming.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Central, with coverage on ESPN+ featuring Brad Wells and Justin Surrency.
The Panthers will enter that break with their first win over Illinois State since 2023 and a conference-opening upset that sharply changes the mood after their difficult trip to Iowa City.