UNI To Host Montana As Part Of Two-Year Football Deal

For years, UNI football fans have been hoping that the Panthers would some day get to play Montana in Cedar Falls. The match-up will happen soon, UNI athletic officials announced on Wednesday (July 15, 2015).

Two of the nation's premiere Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) powers have agreed to play a two-game series, starting on Sept. 10, 2016, when UNI hosts the Grizzlies in the UNI-Dome. The Panthers will complete the home-and-home agreement on Sept. 1, 2018, when they face Montana in Missoula.

The 2016 game will be the sixth overall between the two teams on the gridiron, barring a post-season meeting this fall. It will mark only the second time that the Grizzlies have played UNI in the UNI-Dome. Montana's only other trip to Cedar Falls occurred on Oct. 3, 1987, and ended with a 33-16 victory over the Panthers.

The Grizzlies lead the all-time series, 5-0. Montana hosted the first regular-season game between the two teams in 1981, winning 42-21.

Each of the last three meetings in the series have been in the NCAA FCS playoffs and all three games were played in Missoula. The post-season match-ups occurred in 1994, 2001 and 2011.

UNI and Montana both have a long history of playoff qualifying. The Panthers have made 17 FCS playoff appearances, while Montana has experienced NCAA post-season play 22 times.

With the agreement in place to play Montana, UNI's 2016 non-conference schedule is now complete. The Panthers will open their 2016 season at Iowa State on Sept. 3, before facing the Grizzlies in the UNI-Dome on Sept. 10. UNI then travels to Eastern Washington on Sept. 17.

All-Time Series Results – UNI vs. Montana
Sept. 26, 1981 – Montana 42, UNI 21 (Missoula, Mont.)
Oct. 3, 1987 – Montana 33, UNI 16 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
Nov. 26, 1994 – Montana 23, UNI 20 (Missoula, Mont.)
Dec. 15, 2001 – Montana 38, UNI 0 (Missoula, Mont.)
Dec. 9, 2011 – Montana 48, UNI 10 (Missoula, Mont.)

UNI's 2016 Non-Conference Schedule
Sept. 3, 2016 – UNI at Iowa State
Sept. 10, 2016 – Montana at UNI
Sept. 17, 2016 – UNI at Eastern Washington