The schools have been in-state rivals since their founding; however, the rivalry intensified when the Panthers joined the Missouri Valley Conference.

[9] Northern Iowa upset top seed Kansas advancing to the NCAA Division I Sweet Sixteen in 2010.

[10][11][12][13] In 2019 Northern Iowa upset the number two seed co-regular season champion Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament semifinals.

The teams would have played again in the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference quarterfinal; however, the game was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Northern Iowa program causing Drake to advance in a walkover.

They also met in the earlier rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament on four occasions, splitting those games.

[14][15] °The 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament game scheduled for March 5 in Saint Louis was canceled due to a COVID-19 issue within the Northern Iowa program.

The Panthers and Bulldogs combine for ten Missouri Valley Conference regular season championships (Northern Iowa 3, Drake 7) and ten Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships (Northern Iowa 2, Drake 8).

They also met three times in the earlier rounds of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with the Bulldogs winning all three of the games.

[22][23] Northern Iowa and Drake compete at the NCAA Division I level in men's and women's cross country.

The men have won sixteen Missouri Valley Conference team championships (Northern Iowa 4, Drake 12) and women have won four Missouri Valley Conference team championships (Northern Iowa 2, Drake 2).

[32] Northern Iowa and Drake compete at the NCAA Division I level in men's and women's golf.

Rowing is the oldest intercollegiate sport in the United States dating back to 1852 (prior to each institutions founding).

The Panther and Bulldog men and women teams have transitioned in-between classification dating back to 1876 (Northern Iowa) and 1881 (Drake).

The Bulldogs advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division I Elite Eight and have won two Missouri Valley Conference tournament championships.

Northern Iowa won the 1977 and 1982 AIAW College World Series (pre-NCAA Division I era).

°2020 games were canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic The Northern Iowa women are currently the only team classified as an NCAA Division I swimming & diving program.

Northern Iowa and Drake competed on six occasions in the team format prior to the Panthers re-classification as college club status in 2003.

In addition, the Panthers and Bulldogs have competed in individual competitions at the NCAA Division I level each season since the founding of their programs.

Northern Iowa and Drake compete at the NCAA Division I level in men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field.

The men have won twenty-two Missouri Valley Conference indoor team championships (Northern Iowa 14, Drake 8) and twenty Missouri Valley Conference outdoor team championships (Northern Iowa 10, Drake 10).

The Bulldogs have yet to win a Missouri Valley Conference title or advance to an NCAA Division I tournament.

The teams have played six times in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with Northern Iowa winning five of the meetings.

Northern Iowa is a traditional contender in college wrestling winning the 1950 NCAA Division I national title.

Northern Iowa and Drake have competed in multiple other men's and women's sports classified as college club status since their founding including archery, badminton, beach volleyball, bowling, climbing, cricket, croquet, curling, cycling, disc golf, dodgeball, fencing, field hockey, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, rugby, sailing, shooting/pistol, spikeball, table tennis, ultimate frisbee, volleyball (men only), water polo, and weightlifting.