SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Kanon Woodill delivered a 35-yard field goal with just 31 seconds remaining, and Cade Haberman blocked a 62-yard attempt as time expired, leading Northern Illinois to a stunning 16-14 victory over No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday.
Haberman's block of Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter’s long-range attempt allowed the ecstatic Huskies to secure their first nonconference win against a ranked opponent since their 19-16 upset of No. 21 Alabama in 2003.
This marked the Huskies' first win over a top-10 team and the first triumph by a Mid-American Conference team against an AP top-five opponent, breaking a 0-51 streak for the MAC against such teams.
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock was visibly emotional following the thrilling outcome.
"We didn't rely on luck," Hammock stated. "That was our mantra. We just needed to perform at our best. It wasn't our cleanest game, but we played hard for all four quarters and remained united. They collaborated, had faith in each other, and made enough plays to win.
"This victory is transformative for our program, similar to when we defeated Alabama back in 2003."
Hammock expressed confidence that his Huskies matched up well against Notre Dame.
"I believe we were bigger than they anticipated," Hammock remarked. "In my view, we’re not your standard MAC team. Our offensive and defensive lines are substantial, and we play with physicality. I didn’t see it as a mismatch in that regard."
The Fighting Irish, who were 28.5-point favorites according to ESPN BET, saw their odds shift dramatically. After starting the day at 16-1 to win the national championship, those odds sank to 75-1 following the defeat.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman reflected on the disappointment of the loss, especially after an impressive road victory over then-No. 20 Texas A&M.
"It's our responsibility as coaches to ensure the players are prepared," Freeman said. "You can go from the highest highs to the lowest lows in just two weeks, but it's on us to take ownership of this situation. Both coaches and players need to accept responsibility and work on improvements."
Notre Dame (1-1) appeared poised to create some distance from Northern Illinois (2-0) while leading 14-13 in the fourth quarter. After a punt, the Fighting Irish regained possession with 7:49 remaining and advanced from their own 25-yard line to the Northern Illinois 49.
Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard attempted a deep pass intended for Kris Mitchell, but Amariyun Knighten intercepted it and returned the ball 33 yards to the midfield mark with 5:55 left on the clock.
"It was a completely bad read," Leonard admitted regarding the interception. "The single high safety was attached to the inside post. I thought he wouldn’t stay attached. Bad eyes, bad feet, bad ball — that's what led to the pick. I take full responsibility."
The Huskies managed to control the clock and moved to the Notre Dame 19, setting up Woodill's field goal. A crucial moment during the drive was a fourth-and-2 conversion, with quarterback Ethan Hampton rushing for 3 yards to the Notre Dame 28.
Hampton, who completed 10 of 19 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown, set up the winning field goal by Woodill, who made three field goals in total that day.
"It's incredible," Hampton said of the triumph. "It's something I'll cherish forever. I’ve been a Huskie fan my whole life, and playing here has been a dream come true for me."
Notre Dame opened the scoring as Leonard evaded defenders for an 11-yard touchdown run with 8:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Northern Illinois quickly responded, needing just five plays for Antario Brown to haul in an 83-yard touchdown pass from Hampton, breaking free between two defensive backs.
Woodill then added two field goals from 42 and 21 yards, giving the Huskies a 13-7 lead at halftime. Notre Dame had an opportunity to cut the deficit to 13-10 just before the break, but Haberman blocked a 48-yard attempt by Jeter.
Woodill started the second half with a miss on a 53-yard field goal attempt, allowing Notre Dame to capitalize. Jeremiya Love broke free for a 34-yard touchdown run, leaping over a defender on his way to the end zone. Jeter’s extra point put Notre Dame ahead 14-13 with 8:34 left in the third quarter.
Leonard ended the game with 20 completions on 32 attempts for 163 yards and two interceptions.
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