Northern Iowa adds Wisconsin to 2012 schedule

Cedar Falls, IA – Northern Iowa will visit Camp Randall Stadium on Sept. 1, 2012, as NIU Director of Athletics Troy Dannen announced the Panthers will open the season against Wisconsin.

Already scheduled to play at Iowa on Sept. 15, 2012 will mark the first time since 2001 that Northern Iowa will play a pair of FBS teams in the same season. The Panthers split the games against FBS schools in 2001, losing to Iowa State 45-0 and upsetting Ball State 42-39.

"The 2012 schedule creates an opportunity for our team and fans to experience two of the greatest gameday atmospheres in college football," UNI head coach Mark Farley said. "While it is a challenge, it is also an opportunity."

Northern Iowa - who is ranked seventh in the The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS preseason Top-25 poll - will open this season against Iowa State on Sept. 3, the third time in the last four years the Panthers have opened with a FBS opponent.