Northern Iowa to visit pair of Big Ten schools in 2012

Dec 14, 2011 - 8:44 PM Cedar Falls, IA (Sports Network) - Northern Iowa will visit a pair of Big Ten schools and will play five home games as part of an 11-game schedule announced on Wednesday.

The Panthers, the Missouri Valley Football Conference co-champions who finished 10-3 this season, will open the season at Wisconsin (Sept. 1) and visit Iowa on Sept. 15.

Northern Iowa will also play road games at Youngstown State (Sept. 22), Southern Illinois (Oct. 13), Western Illinois (Nov. 3), and South Dakota (Nov. 10).

Northern Iowa's home opener is Sept. 8 against Savannah State, the lone non- conference home game of the season, and will host North Dakota State (Sept. 29), South Dakota State (Oct. 20), Illinois State (Oct. 27), and Missouri State (Nov. 17).

With the MVFC expanding to 10 teams, Northern Iowa and Indiana State will not meet for the first time since 1985.

2012 Northern Iowa University Football Schedule

Sept. 1, at Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc.

Sept. 8, Savannah State, UNI Dome

Sept. 15, at Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Sept. 22, at Youngstown State, Youngstown, OH

Sept. 29, North Dakota State, UNI Dome

Oct. 13, at Southern Illinois, Carbondale, Ill.

Oct. 20, South Dakota State, UNI Dome

Oct. 27, Illinois State, UNI Dome

Nov. 3, at Western Illinois, Macomb, Ill.

Nov. 10, at South Dakota, Vermillion, SD

Nov. 17, Missouri State, UNI Dome