Cedar Falls, Iowa • Southern Utah can clinch its second straight winning season Saturday, but doing so won't be easy.

The Thunderbirds, who are 5-4 after back-to-back wins over Weber State and UC Davis, face fifth-ranked Northern Iowa. The Panthers are 7-2. They have lost only to No. 1-ranked North Dakota State (27-19) and Iowa State (20-19) of the Big 12.

With two games remaining, Southern Utah's outside chance at reaching the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs depend on beating Northern Iowa and Northern Arizona.

If that happens, the Thunderbirds will finish 7-4, including a lopsided victory over UNLV and three wins over Big Sky Conference opponents.

Still, it might not be enough to offset losses to South Dakota State, North Dakota, South Dakota and Cal Poly by a combined total of 16 points.

Against Northern Iowa, the Thunderbirds will once again count on junior quarterback Brad Sorensen to move the offense. In last week's 34-3 win over UC Davis, he completed 24 of 33 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown.

Sorensen ranks second on SUU's all-time list for pass completions (495), passing yards (5,630) and touchdown passes (37). He needs 24 completions, 1,812 yards and five touchdown passes to overtake current record-holder Rick Robins. —

Southern Utah at Northern Iowa

P At the UNI Dome, Cedar Falls

Kickoff • 5 p.m. MST

TV • None, Radio • 590 AM, 91.1 FM