2003 Northern Iowa Panthers football team

2003 Northern Iowa Panthers football
Gateway champion
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 5
Record10–3 (6–1 Gateway)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Salmon (3rd season)
Home stadiumUNI-Dome
2003 Gateway Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 5 Northern Iowa +^   6 1     10 3  
No. 9 Southern Illinois +^   6 1     10 2  
No. 6 Western Illinois ^   5 2     9 4  
No. 7 Western Kentucky ^   5 2     9 4  
Illinois State   3 4     6 6  
Youngstown State   2 5     5 7  
Southwest Missouri State   1 6     4 7  
Indiana State   0 7     3 9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2003 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Mark Farley, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the Gateway title. Northern Iowa advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where the Panthers beat Montana State in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Delaware in the quarterfinals. Northern Iowa played home games at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.