1987 Northern Iowa Panthers football team
{{Short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| sport = football
| year = 1987
| team = Northern Iowa Panthers
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference
| short_conf = GCAC
| CoachRank =
| APRank =
| record = 10–4
| conf_record = 6–0
| head_coach = Darrell Mudra
| hc_year = 5th
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = UNI-Dome
| champion = GCAC champion
| bowl = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| bowl_result = L 41–44 vs. Northeast Louisiana
}}
{{1987 Gateway Football Conference standings}}
The 1987 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa as a member of the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference (GCAC) during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1987
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 5
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = McNeese State
| site_stadium = Cowboy Stadium
| site_cityst = Lake Charles, LA
| score = 34–31
| attend = 18,500
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120185274/panthers-edge-mcneese-state-on-field-goa/|work=The Des Moines Register|title=Panthers edge McNeese State on field goal|date=September 6, 1987|accessdate=March 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 12
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Minnesota
| site_stadium = Metrodome
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN
| score = 7–24
| tv = KITN
| attend = 50,120
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-thompson-u-run-over-nort/160532629/|work=Star Tribune|title=Thompson, 'U' run over Northern Iowa|date=September 13, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 19
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 12
| opponent = Montana State
| site_stadium = UNI-Dome
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| score = 53–7
| attend = 14,213
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-willard-passes-panthers-to-5/160496351/|work=The Gazette|title=Willard passes Panthers to 53–7 pasting of Montana State|date=September 20, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| time = 1:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Indiana State
| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Terre Haute, IN
| score = 38–14
| attend = 8,457
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-smiths-return-lifts/160532715/|work=The Daily Nonpareil|title=Smith's return lifts Panthers to easy victory|date=September 27, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| time = 1:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| homecoming = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = Montana
| site_stadium = UNI-Dome
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| score = 16–33
| attend = 12,027
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-nightmares-for-uni-iowa/160493636/|work=The Courier|title=Nightmares for UNI, Iowa|date=October 4, 1987|accessdate=December 7, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 10
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 11
| opponent = Iowa State
| site_stadium = Cyclone Stadium
| site_cityst = Ames, IA
| score = 38–39
| attend = 46,515
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-cyclones-earn-firs/160532818/|work=The Rock Island Argus|title=Cyclones earn first win|date=October 11, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| time = 1:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 12
| opponent = Western Illinois
| site_stadium = Hanson Field
| site_cityst = Macomb, IL
| score = 52–7
| attend = 14,291
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-northern-iowa-ro/160532907/|work=The Des Moines Register|title=Northern Iowa rocks Western Illinois, 52–7|date=October 25, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 10
| opponent = Eastern Illinois
| site_stadium = UNI-Dome
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| score = 19–17
| attend = 13,203
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-being-lucky-nets-panthers-a/160533129/|work=The Gazette|title=Being lucky nets Panthers a good win, 19–17|date=November 1, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| time = 1:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 7
| opponent = Southwest Missouri State
| site_stadium = Briggs Stadium
| site_cityst = Springfield, MO
| score = 17–13
| attend = 3,343
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-uni-stays-unbeat/160533251/|work=The Des Moines Register|title=UNI stays unbeaten in conference, 17–13|date=November 8, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 5
| opponent = Southern Illinois
| site_stadium = UNI-Dome
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| score = 20–3
| attend = 11,813
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-uni-clinches-titl/160533336/|work=The Sioux City Journal|title=UNI clinches title tie|date=November 15, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 21
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank = 4
| opponent = Illinois State
| site_stadium = UNI-Dome
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| score = 48–17
| attend = 9,582
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-nonpareil-uni-cruises-by-isu/160533413/|work=The Daily Nonpareil|title=UNI cruises by ISU, 48–17|date=November 22, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = Youngstown State
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = UNI-Dome
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA First Round
| score = 31–28
| attend = 3,887
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-uni-wins-opener/143977479/|work=The Des Moines Register|title=UNI wins opener of playoffs|date=November 29, 1987|accessdate=March 23, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 5
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = Arkansas State
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = UNI-Dome
| site_cityst = Cedar Falls, IA
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
| score = 48–28
| attend = 6,100
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110924461/uni-gains-semifinals-in-4928-win/|work=The Des Moines Register|title=UNI gains semifinals in 49–28 win|date=December 6, 1987|accessdate=October 8, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = December 12
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank = 4
| opponent = Northeast Louisiana
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Malone Stadium
| site_cityst = Monroe, LA
| gamename = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| score = 41–44
| overtime = 2OT
| attend = 14,443
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-uni-season-ends-in-second-ov/160533498/|work=The Courier|title=UNI season ends in second overtime|date=December 13, 1987|accessdate=December 8, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
{{cite web |url=https://unipanthers.com/sports/football/schedule/1987 |title=1987 Football Schedule |work=University of Northern Iowa Athletics}}{{cite web|url=https://scholarworks.uni.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1140&context=amg|title=1987 Northern Iowa Football|access-date=February 13, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Northern Iowa Panthers football navbox}}
{{Missouri Valley Football Conference champions}}
Category:Northern Iowa Panthers football seasons
Category:Missouri Valley Football Conference champion seasons
Northern Iowa Panthers football
{{collegefootball-1987-season-stub}}
{{Iowa-sport-stub}}