CEDAR FALLS - Northern Iowa, your time slot has come.

The Panthers host Richmond at 3 p.m. today in the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. To the victor, goes a trip to the title game next Friday in Chattanooga.

UNI, though, gets a showcase. ESPN will carry the semifinal on a weekend when much of the college football world is on hold.

The other half of the FCS bracket, James Madison and Montana, played Friday night. The Jackson State-Grambling matchup, set to kick off at 1 p.m. today, should be past halftime when the Panthers and Spiders take the field.

So the stage that ESPN can offer has been set in the middle of the Cedar Valley and the campus of UNI. It's the first semifinal at the Dome since 1992, when the Panthers lost to Youngstown State.

"Through this game, we are exposing the University of Northern Iowa across the country," Panther head coach Mark Farley said.

"It gives us an opportunity to show what UNI is."

Said quarterback Pat Grace, "It'll be big for us and the whole program. It'll be fun for us to get the program's name up there and watch and see what it's all about."

Of course, the Panthers have been cable guys before. Three years ago, for example, UNI played in the FCS title game for the first time, losing to Appalachian State at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The game was televised on ESPN2.

While Farley and his team savor a chance to play today in front of a national audience, they would love to mount the stage one more time. And to make a return trip to Tennessee, UNI must beat a Richmond team that's already played the role of spoiler.

Last weekend, the Spiders shocked Appalachian State on its home field, ending the Mountaineers' run of three consecutive FCS titles.

Richmond, trying to reach its first FCS championship game, brings many of the same attributes that lay behind UNI's 12-2 record.

The Spiders have a multi-purpose quarterback in Eric Ward and a highly productive ballcarrier in Josh Vaughan. Richmond's defense is stingy against the run and it knows how to snatch a football away from the opposition. Through 14 games, Richmond leads the nation in interceptions at 28 and stands second in turnover margin at plus 23. UNI is right behind the Spiders at plus 21.

"When you look at them and you look at us, I don't know if it's a scheme that's gonna win this game," Farley said. "I just think this is gonna be two good football teams that are gonna line up and play good football.

"We just need to play. It's not about the national championship game. It really isn't. This one's about playing well against Richmond."

One stage has been set. The Spiders have slain the FCS giants in Appalachian State. The Panthers fought through injuries and suspensions to reach the semifinals.

It'll be lights, camera and action. UNI vs. Richmond on ESPN.

"We're excited about it," offensive lineman Bob Swift said. "Everybody's put in a lot of hard work. We never lost faith with all the things we had to overcome so far this year. To get back to this level of play - it speaks for itself. We're excited and looking forward to Richmond."

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com