NORMAL -- The Illinois State football team's current 5-5 record represents a two-victory improvement over the 3-8 mark of 2008.

Tacking on one more to secure a winning season in Saturday's noon Missouri Valley Football Conference season finale against No. 9 Northern Iowa at Hancock Stadium would be hugely significant in the Redbirds' view.

"You leave your mark in different aspects. It definitely shows what kind of team you were," senior defensive end Doni Phelps said. "It's hard to win, especially in Division I football. Leaving with a winning record helps bring momentum to next season for the underclassmen."

ISU (4-3 in league play) was picked eighth in the nine-team MVFC and would tie UNI for third with a victory on Senior Day.

"It's very important. It's important to our seniors. We're trying to send them out the right way," said Redbirds' coach Brock Spack. "We hope to give them a winning season and also launch our younger players into the offseason."

There is no shortage of motivation for the Panthers, either. A win gives UNI (7-3, 5-2 in the Valley) a strong case for a Championship Subdivision at-large playoff berth, while a loss likely ends the Panthers' season.

"They are the most talented FCS team we've seen all year from top to bottom on both sides of the football," Spack said. "They have playmakers all over the field. It's a matter of can our players make plays because their players do."

The Panthers, who had two potential game-winning field goals blocked in a 17-16 loss to Iowa on Sept. 5, are outscoring opponents by 22.4 points per game and their mark of 12.3 points allowed ranks second nationally. UNI has scored on 95 percent of its trips inside the 20-yard line (39 of 41).

UNI quarterback Pat Grace, a 6-foot-2, 240-pounder, leads the Valley in total offense (249.7). Freshman tailback Carlos Anderson (536 yards) is expected to return from a hamstring injury.

ISU counters with the Valley's No. 1 passing offense. Matt Brown has set a Redbird freshman record with 2,295 yards through the air, and senior Eyad Salem tops the conference with 83 receptions for 869 yards.

"The freshman quarterback, you can see his development throughout the year. And 84 (Salem) is an excellent football player," said Panthers' coach Mark Farley. "They are a tough team to prepare for because they do so many things."

Season finale

Northern Iowa at Illinois State

Time: Noon, Saturday

Broadcast: WJBC-AM (1230)