(Radio Iowa) The Missouri Valley Football Conference says games canceled this season due to COVID will most likely result in forfeits. Conference Commissioner Patty Viverito says vaccination rates were frightening earlier this summer but have improved in recent weeks.

Viverito says their goal is to have 85 percent of players, coaches and staff vaccinated.

Viverito says currently none of the league teams are at the 85 percent level.

Viverito says there is no room in the schedule to make up games that are canceled.

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley admits his program is lagging in its vaccination rate.

The Panthers had several players miss games and had a game canceled during their abbreviated spring season.

Farley hopes what the Panthers experienced in the spring will help motivate the players to get vaccinated.

The Panthers open September fourth at Iowa State.