Nearly four years ago, the UNI Panthers visited Kinnick Stadium and left with a 45-21 loss to the No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes. Tomorrow, the Panthers return to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes, who are ranked No. 21 in the Football Bowl Subdivision once again.

History says that Iowa will end up victors once more. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series, 13-1, with UNI’s lone win occurring over 100 years ago.

“My first thought is I wish we would catch them on a down year,” said UNI head coach Mark Farley.

With another promising season on the horizon for Iowa, it is difficult to imagine there being much difference in outcome from the programs’ last meeting. But the Panthers see otherwise.

“The difference is last year we played BYU,” said UNI senior offensive tackle Austin Howard.

Strangely enough, a 41-17 opening week loss to Brigham Young serves as a confidence-builder for the Panthers.

“We played BYU when they were a top 15 team in the country. In the third quarter, it was 27-17. We had them on the ropes. We know we can compete with anybody,” said UNI senior center Austin Steichen.

“BYU was a great football game for us last year because of what transpired throughout the game. We can build off of a game like that,” said Farley.

UNI enters Saturday’s game with a fresh confidence and a No. 4 ranking in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Panthers will rely on experience and athleticism, especially on offense where eight starters return from a team that was third in the FCS in points per game.

The UNI offensive attack will be tested, however. Iowa boasts eight returning starters from a defense that ranked second in the FBS in touchdowns allowed.

“If you look at them, they’re almost a flip of us in some ways,” said Iowa head coach Kirk Farentz.

Senior linebacker Pat Angerer comes off a second-team All-Big Ten season to lead a physical Hawkeye defense. Angerer will find support from fellow linebacker A.J. Edds, honorable mention All-Big Ten, as well as a talented group of defensive backs, including second team All-Big Ten selection Amari Spievey.

Panther senior quarterback and Walter Payton Award candidate Pat Grace draws his protection from an offensive line touting five seniors, including Steichen, a first team preseason All-American. Grace will look to quick and proven wide receivers like senior Notre Dame transfer D.J. Hord and sophomore All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer Josh Collins. Grace. The dual-threat quarterback will also rely on his feet that helped earn him the second most total yards in the MVFC last season.

Recent developments have created uncertainty for both the Panthers’ and Hawks’ running attack. UNI first and third-string running backs Derrick Law and Taylor Brookins will sit out after violating team rules. The senior Law is suspended one game while the junior Brookins is suspended indefinitely.

Redshirt freshman Carlos Anderson will get his first collegiate touches at Kinnick as the Panthers’ new starting running back. Farley is confident in Anderson’s athletic ability, however.

“We almost played [Anderson] at the end of the season last year,” said Farley.

Projected starting running back Jewel Hampton will miss the entire Iowa season after injuring his knee this summer.

Junior Paki O’Meara, who saw limited action last season, will assume Hampton’s role and could lead a running back rotation consisting of three others.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be a two-man, three-man, four-man, but we’ll do whatever it takes to be effective out there,” said Farentz.

Hoping to squash Iowa’s run attack is a Panther defensive line led by one of the best defensive ends in the FCS, James Ruffin. The senior is a second-team preseason All-American and graces watch lists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award and the Buck Buchanan Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“[Ruffin] could play anywhere in the country,” said Farentz.

Reinforcing Ruffin and his line is a linebacker corps featuring third-team preseason All-American Josh Mahoney and Wisconsin transfer Elijah Hodge. Hodge, the brother of former Iowa and current Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Addul Hodge, feels comfortable in his new surroundings.

“The transition has been real smooth. The guys have welcomed me with open arms,” said Hodge.

Hodge said he talked to his older brother the other day who gave him encouragement despite the fact that he will be cheering on his alma mater.

“He told me to stay focused and healthy and to keep moving,” said Hodge.

Although UNI presents a formidable defense, a big question mark still lingers as far as defensive backs. New faces will be found at every defensive back position, including two redshirt freshmen, Terrell McBride and Andre Martin, starting at cornerback. Much could hinge on their performances.

“They’re definitely young. We plan on running; we plan on throwing. So they’ll dictate a lot of what happens,” said Farentz.

The initial drives of the game may also decide if history will repeat itself.

“We started off slow [last game against Iowa], and we know we can’t do that this game. We know that we have to come out fast and strong, and that’s what we’ve been working on doing,” said Howard.

“We’ve got to take the opportunities given to us. We can’t have turnovers. We’ve got to be very, very effective,” said Grace.

Saturday’s contest begins at 11:01 a.m. and will be aired on the Big Ten Network.