A 35-yard field goal by Northern Illinois University kicker Kanon Woodill in the final seconds of the game sealed the game between the Huskies and the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Notre Dame tried to mount a comeback in the final minutes but missed a 62-yard field goal, giving Northern Illinois University an incredible 16-14 victory in South Bend, Indiana.
The upset marked the Huskies' first non-conference win over a ranked opponent since beating the then-No. 21 Alabama Crimson Tide, 19-16, in 2003, and Northern Illinois' first win in program history against a team ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25.
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South Bend, Indiana, USA, September 7, 2024: Northern Illinois Huskies center Logan Zernitz (65) prepares to snap the ball during the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. (Matt Cashore-Imagn Images)
Coming off an impressive road win over Texas A&M, Notre Dame was holding a 14-13 lead going into the fourth quarter and appeared in position to close the gap on Northern Illinois. The Fighting Irish got the ball after a punt with 7:49 left in the game and drove from their own 25 to the Northern Illinois 49.
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Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard fired a pass deep up the middle to Chris Mitchell, but Amariyun Knighton intercepted it and returned it 33 yards to the 50-yard line with 5:55 left in the game.
Northern Illinois University safety Santana Banner tackles Notre Dame University quarterback Riley Leonard during an NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Northern Illinois University on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Notre Dame Stadium. (Michael Clubb/USA TODAY Network)
Knighton's interception set up Woodill's third field goal of the day, sealing the victory.
Notre Dame took the lead with 8:28 left in the first quarter when quarterback Riley Leonard blitzed the Huskies defense for an 11-yard touchdown run.
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Notre Dame will likely drop significantly in the rankings next week before traveling to West Lafayette to face Purdue on Sept. 14, while Northern Illinois will enjoy a week off before hosting the University at Buffalo on Sept. 21.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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