In a thrilling college football upset, Northern Illinois shocked No. 5 Notre Dame 16-14 with a dramatic finish that included a game-winning 35-yard field goal by Kanon Woodill and a crucial blocked 62-yard field goal attempt by Cade Haberman as time expired. This victory marked Northern Illinois’ first non-conference win against a ranked opponent since 2003 when they defeated No. 21 Alabama 19-16.

Notre Dame, coming off a notable road win over Texas A&M, found themselves in a close battle with Northern Illinois throughout the game. Despite holding a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter, a key interception by Amariyun Knighten off a pass from Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard set the stage for Woodill’s game-winning field goal, his third of the day.

The game started with Notre Dame taking the lead as Riley Leonard scored an 11-yard touchdown run, quickly answered by Northern Illinois with an 83-yard touchdown reception by Antario Brown. Woodill’s two first-half field goals helped the Huskies to a 13-7 halftime lead, despite Haberman’s block of a potential Notre Dame field goal.

In the second half, Notre Dame reclaimed the lead at 14-13 with Jeremiyah Love’s 34-yard touchdown run. However, Northern Illinois’ resilience and strong defense ultimately secured the upset victory over the higher-ranked opponent.

With this unexpected defeat, Notre Dame faces challenges on the offensive end, particularly with a young offensive line. On the other hand, Northern Illinois has demonstrated their competitiveness as a team to watch in the Mid-American Conference.

Following this contest, Notre Dame will face in-state rival Purdue on the road, while Northern Illinois will enjoy a week off before hosting Buffalo on September 21. This surprising outcome is likely to impact the college football rankings, with Notre Dame expected to drop in the polls while Northern Illinois may gain substantial recognition in the upcoming rankings.