The FCS Notebook is a blog-style article series featuring an assortment of news, rumblings, quick hitters, and commentary on various topics.
A new FCS Notebook will be published multiple times a week.
UNI’s Mark Farley To Retire
Northern Iowa head football coach Mark Farley will retire after this season, marking an end to his historic coaching career for the Panthers.
Farley owns a 182-111 overall record in 24 seasons as UNI’s head coach and is the winningest football coach in UNI and Missouri Valley Football Conference history. He helped lead UNI to 17 FCS playoff wins.
“It has been a great honor to be part of the Panther family for over 40 years,” Farley said. “For me, UNI Football has always been about setting a standard that goes beyond the game. It has been about a legacy of resilience, pride, hard work, and excellence. Watching our players grow into leaders and champions on and off the field and carry that standard with them beyond the football field has been the greatest reward of my career. I’m grateful for every player, coach, and supporter who has shared in this journey. Together we have built a program that strengthens character and challenges players to go beyond what they thought possible. UNI Football has been more than a team to me; it has been a family. Personally, our family has been blessed with the friendships of so many wonderful people in the community that we are forever thankful for.”
Since 2010, the Panthers have reached the FCS playoffs eight times: 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, including quarterfinal appearances in 2011, 2015, and 2019. Since the 2021 season, UNI has finished 6-5 in 2022 and 2023. The Panthers are currently 2-8.
A national search will commence for the head coach opening.
W&M’s Charles Grant Gets 1st Senior Bowl Invite
William & Mary senior left tackle Charles Grant became the first player to earn and accept an invitation to play in the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, a major postseason All-Star game for NFL Draft prospects.
The 6-foot-4 and 300-pounder is a multi-time All-CAA and FCS All-American selection. He is currently the No. 2 highest-graded FCS offensive tackle by PFF and is No. 4 out of all FBS and FCS tackles.
W&M’s offense currently ranks third in FCS rushing (248.5 yards per game) and 11th in total offense (444.6 YPG).
FCS Standouts On PFF
FCS guys who are PFF’s highest-graded players at their position in all of FCS and FBS:
San Diego WR Ja’seem Reed
Montana State RB Scottre Humphrey
NDSU OT Grey Zabel
Lehigh S Nick Peltekian
Samford LB Noah Martin
Central Arkansas edge David Walker
Related Articles
3 Ranked Matchups This Week
There are three games this week between ranked opponents:
No. 2 Montana State at No. 4 UC Davis
No. 14 Abilene Christian at No. 13 Tarleton State
No. 14 Missouri State (Coaches Poll) at No. 1 NDSU
FCS Teams Still Undefeated vs. FCS Opponents
Records against FCS opponents
Montana State 9-0 (10-0 overall)
NDSU 9-0
UC Davis 9-0
Duquesne 6-0
Dropped after this weekend’s results:
SEMO, Rhode Island
Past FCS Notebooks
Mountain West Reportedly Considering Adding NDSU … READ MORE
Will Inflated CAA Records Help Or Hurt On Selection Sunday? … READ MORE
Ivy League Considering Allowing Its Teams Into The FCS Playoffs … READ MORE
