Notre Dame Stunned by Northern Illinois in 16-14 Upset

No. 5 Notre Dame faced a stunning upset Saturday, falling 16-14 to Northern Illinois at home in South Bend. The Fighting Irish, heavy 28.5-point favorites, saw their College Football Playoff hopes dim as Northern Illinois secured its first-ever victory over a top-10 team.

The game took a dramatic turn when Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard threw a costly interception with 5:55 remaining and the Irish clinging to a 14-13 lead. Northern Illinois took advantage, driving 31 yards in 11 plays before Kanon Woodill nailed a 35-yard field goal to put the Huskies ahead with 31 seconds left.

Notre Dame had one last shot, but a 62-yard field goal attempt was blocked as time expired—marking the second blocked field goal of the game. The loss comes just a week after Notre Dame’s statement win over Texas A&M, but the team now faces mounting questions under third-year head coach Marcus Freeman, who has suffered another disappointing defeat to a Group of 5 opponent after a loss to Marshall in 2022.

For Notre Dame, the game began with promise. The Irish opened with a 75-yard drive, capped off by a Riley Leonard touchdown run to take an early 7-0 lead. However, Northern Illinois quickly responded with an 83-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Antario Brown to tie the game. A series of punts followed, with Notre Dame’s offense faltering and Northern Illinois inching ahead 13-7 by halftime.

Despite a strong defensive effort by the Irish, including stops on key third-down plays by younger linebackers like Jaiden Ausberry, the offense struggled throughout the game. Leonard threw two costly interceptions, one of which set up Northern Illinois’ game-winning drive. The lack of offensive spark highlighted the ongoing struggles of Notre Dame’s new-look offense under offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.

In the second half, the Irish momentarily regained momentum with a 34-yard touchdown run by Jeremiyah Love, putting Notre Dame up 14-13. But the offense sputtered, and Leonard’s late interception put the defense in a difficult position.

Northern Illinois capitalized on Notre Dame’s mistakes, converting on key fourth downs and draining the clock before Woodill’s game-winning field goal. The Huskies, led by head coach Thomas Hammock, secured the biggest win in program history, adding another chapter to their storied tradition of upsets.

Notre Dame’s defense, which excelled the previous week against Texas A&M, struggled to contain Northern Illinois’ misdirection plays, particularly targeting the younger Irish linebackers. Despite solid efforts from players like Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa and Jaylen Sneed, the Irish gave up big plays, including an 83-yard touchdown pass and a 43-yard reception in the first quarter.

The loss deflates Notre Dame’s hopes of a Playoff run in 2024 and raises significant questions about the team’s offensive consistency and overall readiness. The Irish will now regroup ahead of their upcoming matchup against Purdue, but their season already feels far more uncertain than it did just a week ago.

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Eric Boggs

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