Additional Coverage:
In a dramatic turn of events, the Northern Illinois Huskies defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 16-14 in South Bend, marking the most significant victory in the program’s history. Before this win, the Huskies were 0-14 against top-10 ranked teams.
Notre Dame, which was ranked No. 7 in the LBM Coaches Poll, is now expected to drop significantly in the rankings following the loss.
NIU Huskie Athletics celebrated the victory enthusiastically on social media, praising the historic achievement.
Key to this upset was the Huskies’ blocking of a 62-yard field goal attempt by Notre Dame as time expired—Cade Haberman’s second blocked field goal of the game, having also thwarted an attempt at the end of the second quarter.
Reactions to the victory highlighted the emotional impact, with NIU head coach Thomas Hammock, an alum of the university, expressing immense pride in his team.
This win marks Northern Illinois as the first Mid-American Conference (MAC) team to ever defeat an AP Top 5 team. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman has now lost four games to unranked teams during his tenure, including this recent defeat.
The victory not only represents NIU’s first win against a top-10 team but also their sixth win against a ranked team since 2000. Commentary from fans and analysts underscored the remarkable achievement and the unpredictable nature of college football.
Social media buzzed with reactions, including remarks about Notre Dame’s perceived overrated status and the general excitement for college football’s unpredictable magic.