NORTHERN IOWA at IOWA STATE

Really going out on a limb with this one, Northern Iowa has wins over Iowa State in 2007 and 2013.

In much the same vein as Mendenhall’s debut at Virginia, Matt Campbell’s arrival at Iowa State brings with it promise. However, the Cyclones need time to become competitive.

Northern Iowa, on the other hand, contends in the loaded Missouri Valley Football Conference every year. The Panthers should be North Dakota State’s primary competition in the Valley, if not the FCS Playoffs.

Karter Schult: commit the name to memory. The Northern Iowa defensive end is likely to be the next FCS prospect who has NFL scouts drooling come spring, and he’ll put some terror into the Iowa State backfield in September.

Schult recorded 14 sacks in 2015 and 23 tackles for loss, powering a Panther defense that allowed just 19 points per game. Conversely, Iowa State averaged just 23 points per game a season ago. Though Campbell’s Toledo teams put up big numbers, the Cyclones are hard-pressed to do so Year 1 — and especially Week 1 against an outstanding defense.