On September 5, 2026, the University of Northern Iowa Panthers took the field for their 2026 season opener, only to see the Eastern Washington Eagles pull away with a 34‑24 victory in front of their home crowd. The game began with a flurry of points, as the Panthers scored 24 in the first quarter before going scoreless the rest of the night.
Season Opener Highlights
Quarterback Jaxon Dailey sparked the offense early, rushing for three touchdowns—including the first of his career—during the opening quarter, and finished the game with 287 passing yards while wide receiver Tay Norman contributed 61 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Panthers struggled, as senior linebacker John Powers recorded a career‑high 11 tackles and defensive end Kolben Miller posted two tackles for loss, yet the unit could not prevent Eastern Washington from extending its lead with a 79‑yard drive and a 15‑yard reception in the third quarter.
Looking Ahead
The Panthers now turn their attention to a home matchup against Drake on September 12, where a pregame ceremony will honor former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner with a jersey retirement, adding a moment of reflection before the next challenge.