That list features veteran wide receivers Kevin Vereen, Chad Owens and Brett LeMaster plus linebacker Max Busher.

So the Panthers of 2014 know the territory. As practice concluded this week, though, Farley declined to put much value on familiarity.

"I don't know if it helps or hurts you that you've been there," he said.

What will truly help UNI next Saturday is depth.

Farley expects the opening Saturday weather to be warm. He also doesn't necessarily know what each Panther will bring to the field when confronted for the first time in 2014 by an opponent. And there's the matter of 11 more games, post-Iowa, to worry about.

The bottom line? UNI is going to need capable bodies and plenty of them.

"I'd like to bring my whole team along during the (Iowa) game without the expense of putting the game in jeopardy," said Farley. "We're gonna put our best personnel on the field, but we need to play more than 11 guys.

"We've got a 12-game season that we've gotta get ready for and grow into. Playing more guys in the Iowa game is important for the development of our team."