The 5th ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish came into today looking to build on the momentum of last week’s win over Texas A&M. Instead, Northern Illinois Huskies came into town with different plans. The Huskies outgained Notre Dame 388 to 286 in total yards as they moved the ball at will a majority of the contest. A late turnover from QB Riley Leonard help setup the Huskies game winning field goal from Kanon Woodill. Leonard struggled all day as the Huskies defense limited him to only 163 passing yards on 32 attempts and 2 interceptions.
How the Huskies Pulled off the Upset
The Huskies did what they do best. Head coach Thomas Hammock has always been a ground and pound type coach with his roots as a running back / former coaching experience for the Baltimore Ravens. Leaning on star running backs Antario Brown and Williams for 158 total yards kept Notre Dame on their heels. Then when the Fighting Irish were expecting run the Huskies dropped back to pass with QB Ethan Hampton to move the sticks.
This is not an unfamiliar occurrence for the Huskies to take down a power 5 opponent. When a Huskie defeats a power 5 opponent, it is called a boneyard victory. Some notable wins over these opponents include Alabama, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Iowa, and more. Notre Dame will now be joining that list. Expect the city of Dekalb to be partying all night after this win.
It will be interesting to see how the Huskies perform the rest of the season after this win. They have another tough matchup against NC State in 2 weeks before the rest of their schedule is MAC opponents. Look out for the Huskies to give Toledo a run for their money for a MAC title.
What is Next for Notre Dame?
The upset loss of Notre Dame to Northern Illinois has significantly altered the trajectory of their 2024 season, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a strong campaign for the Fighting Irish. This loss automatically makes Notre Dame’s chances of making the College Football Playoff (CFB) grim if they drop another game. Head coach Marcus Freeman has not had the success many suspected at this point, warming his seat up if they miss the playoff this season.
Their next game against, another MAC opponent, Central Michigan is crucial, not just for a win, but for demonstrating a clear improvement in execution and strategy. They need to reestablish their dominance against the run and finally get some rhythm on offense. Another rough week for Riley Leonard could put his job in jeopardy going forward. The rest of their season includes matchups that, while not as daunting as facing top-ranked teams, are fraught with potential pitfalls if the team’s confidence and performance remain shaken. Games against teams like USC, Clemson, and potentially a resurgent Louisville could define whether Notre Dame can claw back into national relevance or if they’ll be remembered for this early season stumble.
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