The Game
South Dakota (4-2, 2-1 MVFC) goes for its third straight win and second against a top-25 team when the 21^st-ranked Coyotes take on the No. 16/17 Northern Iowa Panthers (3-2, 1-1) at 4 p.m. Saturday in Cedar Falls. It's the first meeting between the two teams since a one-year hiatus, making this the second straight meeting in Iowa. The Coyotes are going for their first win inside the UNI-Dome since 2013.
 
The Matchup
The game features two of the top defenses in the FCS. South Dakota and UNI are both allowing just 15 points per game. The Coyotes are allowing 290 yards per game, which ranks 12^th nationally. UNI is giving up 301 yards per game, which ranks 18^th.
 
Low-scoring affairs have not been the case in recent history. Both teams have reached 25 points in each of the last four matchups dating back to 2016.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota took care of business at home the last two weeks and is looking to steal its first road win since topping Illinois State to start the abbreviated spring campaign. The Coyotes opened conference play this fall with a 31-23 defeat at Missouri State. That remains the only game in which USD has allowed more than 17 points. The Coyotes allowed 205 yards and 10 points two weeks ago at home to Indiana State. North Dakota mustered 258 yards and 13 points inside the DakotaDome last week.
 
The Panthers
UNI's only two losses were a 16-10 defeat at Iowa State in week one and a 34-20 road loss at North Dakota State last Saturday. The Panthers won the three games in between handily. The offense has been turned over to Michigan State transfer Theo Day, and he has tossed six touchdowns in the last four weeks. Isaiah Weston has come alive with Day at the helm. He has caught a touchdown in four straight and had five catches for 181 yards last week against NDSU. Weston had four catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns the last time he faced South Dakota.
 
The First Half
South Dakota's performance early on against its five FCS foes has been remarkable. The Coyotes have outscored opponents 125-31 in the first half and outgained them in yards by an average of 289-126. In the second halves of those games, and often playing with a large lead, USD has ran the ball 110 times while completing 18-of-35 passes. Northern Iowa, meanwhile, has allowed a combined 38 points in five first halves this season.
 
One Last Thing
South Dakota is back in the national rankings for the first time since this past March. The South Dakota-UNI matchup is one of four FCS games this week featuring two ranked teams. This is the first time USD and UNI are squaring off in a top-25 matchup.