Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley says the Panthers are ready for a game. UNI opens at Iowa State, ranked 18th in the preseason FCS poll.

Farley named redshirt freshman Will McElvain as the starting quarterback. The former Des Moines Lincoln standout edged out sophomore Jacob Keller for the job.

Farley says this is by far the best Cyclone team he has coached against. Iowa State enters the season nationally ranked for the first time since 1978.