The Northern Iowa Panthers finished the season ranked 21st in the final one-double-a top 25 but the Panthers missed out on their biggest prize this season. A 44-41 loss to Western Illinois kept the Panthers out of the national playoffs and prevented U-N-I from grabbing a share of the Gateway Conference title. Panther coach Mike Dunbar says it was the little things that proved costly, such as a handful of plays in critical games.Dunbar says the program has a bright future. He says they’re close to breaking through, but need to “take it up a level.”