Northern Iowa's Rennie thinks he's better than last time vs. Iowa State

This time, Tirrell Rennie will be up to speed.

Northern Iowa’s quarterback felt harried and hurried last September during his visit to Jake Trice Stadium, completing six of 13 passes — and throwing two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown — as Iowa State rolled to a 27-0 football victory.

“That game was in more than hyper drive,” Rennie said. “It was too fast.”

The Cyclones expect to face a more poised passer when Rennie returns Saturday for a season-opening matchup of in-state rivals.

“If your program is doing what it should be, those guys should be better the following year,” Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said. “And (Rennie) certainly will be. They’ve got a veteran team. They’re an explosive, scary, talented, outstanding football program.”

Rennie is among eight returning starters for the Panthers’ offense, which features some of the top playmakers in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

“They’ve got really good, quick, fast receivers,” Cyclone cornerback Leonard Johnson said. “They’re a little under-sized, but the speed makes up for it. Those guys are all-around good athletes.”

Iowa State, meanwhile, boasts several key veterans from a defense that forced five Northern Iowa turnovers and left Rennie reeling.

“We were charting our team the other day and talking about ‘Are we better at this position, are we better at that position?’ ” Rhoads said. “And we are at a number of spots, because we’ve got returning starters.”

Jeremy Reeves, A.J. Klein and Jake Knott — all returning starters — each intercepted a pass against the Panthers while helping Iowa State secure its first shutout in six years.

“Coach Rhoads did a phenomenal job of coaching those guys up,” Rennie said. “I give all kudos to him.

“I’m going to be glad to play these guys, just as they’re going to be glad to play us.”

Rennie rebounded for a breakout season.

He became the first quarterback in Northern Iowa history to gain more than 1,000 yards passing and running, earning second-team, all-Valley honors.

“After that game, all we said as a team, we can’t have another instance like that,” Rennie recalled. “So we went off from that and did pretty good.”

Now, the Panthers return to Ames with a chance to make amends.

“There is a part of me that wants to go out there and show them I’m more improved,” Rennie said. “Our offense is better. Our defense is better. And I’m pretty sure they (the Cyclones) are better than they were last year.”

Rennie, an all-American for Ellsworth Community College, has a better grasp on the playbook.

"He's much more stable," Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley said, "just because he knows our system. Our system takes time to learn, so we're excited to see what comes."

Rennie averaged 5.6 yards per rush as a junior, scoring 15 touchdowns. If he improves his 56.2 completion percentage (with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions), it’s the Cyclones who could be playing catch up.

“I hold no personal grudges against them,” Rennie said. “All I want them to do is come out and give us their best effort, because we will come out and give them our best effort.”