# Northern Iowa Stars Test Iowa Defense

> Northern Iowa's top talents could challenge Iowa's defense this week.
- Title: Northern Iowa Stars Test Iowa Defense · Iowa Hawkeyes On SI
- Summary: Northern Iowa's top talents could challenge Iowa's defense this week. Northern Iowa's playmakers, including Jaxon Dailey and Brady McCullough, may test…
- Keywords: iowa hawkeyes, northern iowa panthers, jaxon dailey, brady mccullough, linebackers, big ten, sports, Northern, Iowa, Stars, Test, Defense
- Source: Iowa Hawkeyes On SI — https://si.com/college/iowa/football/iowa-football-northern-iowa-top-talents-test-hawkeyes
- Published: 2026-09-16T14:00:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: iowa hawkeyes, northern iowa panthers, jaxon dailey, brady mccullough, linebackers, big ten, sports
## Panthers' confidence
Northern Iowa Panthers enter Kinnick Stadium fresh off a 56-14 drubbing of Drake Bulldogs with confidence.
## Jaxon Dailey
Dailey has completed 36-of-51 passes for 529 yards and three touchdowns, limiting interceptions to one.
## Brady McCullough
McCullough has eight receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 15.4 yards per catch.
## Linebackers
Northern Iowa's linebackers held Drake to 29 yards on 27 carries, with John Powers, Braden McShane, and Kolben Miller each having at least 13 tackles.
## Potential threat
Dailey's skill set is similar to Jaylen Raynor, who Iowa just saw, and he can test the defense if he shows up lackadaisical.
## Defense challenge
McCullough's size at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds could cause matchup problems for Iowa's safeties.
## What happens next
Northern Iowa's linebackers must be accounted for in the blocking scheme to avoid another slog in the run game.
## Key takeaway

Northern Iowa's playmakers, including Jaxon Dailey and Brady McCullough, may test Iowa's defense in their upcoming game.