A year removed from a 27-0 beatdown of in-state rival Northern Iowa, the ISU football team is not taking anything for granted.

Having received a No. 7 ranking in the preseason top 25 coaches poll for the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), opposite the FBS in Division I, the Panthers may prove to be a tough shell to crack.

“The Panthers have a very athletic football team,” said junior linebacker A.J. Klein. “They bring a lot of speed to the game and they throw a lot of different offensive formations out on the field that we have to adjust to, and they’re a tough team to game-plan for.”

In last season’s Sept. 25 matchup, the Cyclones shut out the visiting Panthers while scoring 14 of their 27 points in the third corner off of interceptions by Klein and cornerback Jeremy Reeves.

The focal point of the defense again will be UNI quarterback Tirrell Rennie, who passed for more than 1,500 yards and rushed for more than 1,200 yards last season.

“Their quarterback is a dangerous weapon,” Klein said. “He can make plays with his feet and arms, so we just have to be conscious of where he is in the pocket and just try to contain his running and keep his rushing to a minimum.”

On the offensive side, ISU coach Paul Rhoads said senior receiver Darius Reynolds, who broke a toe on his left foot on Aug. 17, moved around “pretty dang well” at practice Wednesday, running routes but not practicing in full pads.

Further evaluation of Reynolds’ condition will take place, but Rhoads said the coaches were very encouraged about his status.

Also key for the offense will be the running back situation, which has pitted Shontrelle Johnson, Jeff Woody, James White and Duran Hollis against one another for the starting spot.

Even though Johnson is projected to get the first carry come Saturday, offensive coordinator Tom Herman said he expects all four to get reps during the season’s first game.

“Myself, coach Rhoads and coach [Kennith] Pope will sit down and discuss who plays when and how much, and what plays they play and all that,” Herman said. “But I wouldn’t be surprised to see all four of them at some point during the game.”

For the ISU offense, containing a defense that sports multiple fronts will be a challenge.

“It requires a little bit more focus and limiting maybe of some of the things that you do,” Herman said of the preparation. “When they do line up in a three-down versus a four-down, your center’s got to be on the same page as your quarterback and running backs and all that. So it certainly does make you have to prepare a little bit longer.”

On its roster, Northern Iowa lists two defensive ends and two tackles along with two inside linebackers with the intent of having one of the ends filling in as the opposite to the lone outside linebacker as its most common front.

Its other front, which is likely to be less prevalent on Saturday, is a 4-3 with the end lining up in a three-point stance on the line instead of as a linebacker.

The game, which will be the last matchup between the two until 2015, is slated to start at 6 p.m. at Jack Trice Stadium.