Juggling of schedules gives UNI another football game

A strange twist means the Northern Iowa football team will not have an off week after all. The Panthers have signed an agreement to play at Ball State this weekend. U-N-I had their game last weekend at Stephen F. Austin cancelled and Ball State lost a game as well. Western Michigan and Ball State were to have played this weekend but Western wanted to play the game at Michigan that was cancelled on Saturday. Ball State and Western have agreed to move their game later in the season and it left U-N-I with a chance to reclaim an 11-game schedule.U-N-I athletic director Rick Hartzell says Oregon State and Missouri also called and inquired about a game, but they felt the Ball State game was the best option.Hartzell says by taking a game it could help their playoff chances at the end of the season if they are in the hunt for an at-large bid.Panther coach Mark Farley says they are glad to have the game.Farley says the game will prevent a lengthy layoff for his team.