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
Seasons
← 2002
2004 →
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 they beat Montana State in the first round before falling to eventual national champion Delaware in the quarterfinals.