There was no football team fielded during the 1906 and 1907 seasons because it was deemed "...too severe to be played at the institution.
"[2] Northern Iowa did not play football during the 1943 and 1944 seasons because of World War II.
In 1982 the I-AA playoffs were expanded to 12 teams, with each of the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye and a home game in the quarterfinals.
In its ninth season of 1986, the I-AA playoffs were expanded again, to the present 16-team format, requiring four post-season victories to win the title.
In April 2008 the NCAA announced that the playoff field will again expand to include 20 teams beginning in 2010.