Notre Dame Falls to Northern Illinois in Stunning 16-14 Upset 9-7-2024
In front of a sold-out crowd at Notre Dame Stadium, the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish (1-1) suffered a heartbreaking 16-14 loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies (2-0). The Huskies sealed the upset with a 35-yard field goal by Kanon Woodill in the final moments, leaving just 24 seconds on the clock.
Notre Dame started strong with an opening-drive touchdown. Quarterback Riley Leonard showcased his dual-threat ability, leading the Irish down the field before capping the drive with an 11-yard keeper for the score. However, Northern Illinois quickly answered. On their first drive, senior running back Anterio Brown turned a short slant route into an 83-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
From there, the Huskies seized momentum. Their defense forced a Notre Dame three-and-out, and Brown’s powerful runs helped set up a field goal to give Northern Illinois a 10-7 lead. The Irish looked poised to respond, but a tipped pass from Leonard resulted in an interception, halting their drive.
The Huskies capitalized immediately. Brown broke loose on a 43-yard wheel route to set up another field goal, extending the lead to 13-7. Notre Dame had an opportunity to cut the deficit before halftime but saw their field goal attempt blocked by Cade Haberman, sending them into the locker room still trailing by six.
Second Half: A Battle of Wills
Notre Dame found life in the second half behind running back Jeremiyah Love. On an electrifying drive, Love broke through the defense for a 34-yard touchdown, hurdling a defender on his way to the end zone. The score put the Irish ahead 14-13.
The game turned into a defensive struggle through the third quarter and into the fourth. Notre Dame’s defense came up big, stopping the Huskies on a 4th-and-2 attempt. However, the Irish offense failed to capitalize on the turnover, and the teams traded fruitless possessions.
Late in the fourth quarter, Leonard’s second interception of the game proved costly. The Huskies returned the pick 34 yards, setting up a crucial drive with under six minutes remaining. Northern Illinois methodically moved down the field, draining the clock to position themselves for a game-winning kick. Woodill’s 35-yard field goal split the uprights with 24 seconds left, giving the Huskies a 16-14 lead.
Final Desperation
Notre Dame’s final drive reached midfield, but with time expiring, they were forced to attempt a 62-yard field goal. Once again, Cade Haberman came through for the Huskies, blocking the long-range attempt and clinching the upset victory.
Key Performers
- Northern Illinois:
- Anterio Brown: 83-yard receiving touchdown, 43-yard wheel route.
- Kanon Woodill: Game-winning 35-yard field goal.
- Cade Haberman: Two blocked field goals.
- Notre Dame:
- Riley Leonard: 1 rushing touchdown, 2 interceptions.
- Jeremiyah Love: 34-yard rushing touchdown.
The loss dealt a blow to Notre Dame’s playoff hopes, as they struggled with turnovers, special teams mishaps, and offensive inconsistency. They’ll look to bounce back next week in hopes of reclaiming their early-season promise.
