Northern Iowa football coach Mark Farley has created competition at quarterback by adding a couple of transfers. Des Moines native Will McElvain has been the starter the past two seasons, including a COVID shortened spring season in which he completed 51 percent of his passes.

Farley says they also added depth at running back as they look to boost a ground game that only averaged 103 yards during the spring season.

Coming off a 3-4 record in the spring the Panthers are picked to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll.