(AP) -- Iowa State will open its third season under coach Paul Rhoads on Saturday night against Northern Iowa.
Rhoads says the Panthers are faster than his Cyclones.
The Panthers are the prohibitive favorites to win the Missouri Valley Football conference this season and are among a handful of teams in serious contention for the FCS title.
Iowa State beat Northern Iowa 27-0 last season.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)