Northern Iowa gets ready to tackle Wisconsin - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

It's easy to figure out why top college football programs, like Wisconsin, play smaller programs to start the season. It's usually an easy win, without much pressure.

It's also easy to see why the smaller school, in this case, Northern Iowa, does it...for the paycheck.

The Panthers will get $450,000 to take on the 12th-ranked Badgers Saturday in Madison. UNI will also play Iowa. It's the first time since '01 that the Panthers have played two FBS teams in the same season.

UNI is 9-21 against big-time programs over the last 26 years.

"It just tends to go bad fast if they get momentum and the crowd can build on that momentum," said UNI head coach Mark Farley. "That's when you start to spiral a little bit out of control. That's what we have to guard against. That's where you need the poise and be able to regroup and gain momentum back for your side of the football field. It's a tough opponent."

Farley says there are three reasons to play Wisconsin. 1--to play on a historic field, 2--to make money for the school and number-3 is obvious.

"The third thing is to win," said Farley. "That's what we have to go out and find a way to do is win the third slot of it, knowing that we're up against tough odds. We'll take a home run swing. We'll try like heck."

Northern Iowa and Wisconsin play at 2:30 Saturday on the Big Ten Network. It's the first meeting between the two schools.