| Year: | 2008 |
| Team: | Northern Iowa Panthers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVFC |
| Record: | 9–3 |
| Conf Record: | 7–1 |
| Tsnrank: | 4[1] |
| Fcscoachrank: | 4[2] |
| Head Coach: | Mark Farley |
| Hc Year: | 8th |
| Cooff Coach1: | Bill Salmon |
| Cooc1 Year: | 8th |
| Cooff Coach2: | Mario Verduzco |
| Cooc2 Year: | 3rd |
| Codef Coach1: | Scott Frost |
| Codc1 Year: | 1st |
| Codef Coach2: | Chris Klieman |
| Codc2 Year: | 1st |
| Champion: | MVFC co-champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I Semifinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 20–21 vs. Richmond |
The 2008 Northern Iowa Panthers football team represented the University of Northern Iowa in the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The previous year's team finished first (of nine) in the Gateway Football Conference. The Gateway Football Conference was renamed the Missouri Valley Football League in June 2008.[3] The team was coached by Mark Farley and played their home games in the UNI-Dome. On November 14, Northern Iowa won its first back-to-back conference championships since the 1995 and 1996 seasons. Northern Iowa was awarded the third seed in the 2008 FCS playoffs.
| Name | Position | Year at Northern Iowa | Alma mater (Year) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach | 8th | Northern Iowa (1987) | ||
| Rick Nelson | Recruiting coordinator Offensive Line | 9th | Northern Iowa (1984) | |
| Bill Salmon | Associate head coach Offensive coordinator Receivers | 8th | Northern Iowa (1980) | |
| Co-offensive coordinator Quarterbacks | 8th | San José State (1988) | ||
| Atif Austin | Running backs | 4th | Iowa State (2003) | |
| Co-defensive coordinator Linebackers | 2nd | Nebraska (1997) | ||
| Co-defensive coordinator Secondary | 3rd | Northern Iowa (1990) | ||
| Defensive line | 3rd | Iowa (2001) | ||
| Tight ends | 5th | Iowa (2003) | ||
| Bill Wilt | Defensive line | 1st | Eureka College (1977) |