Northern Illinois stuns Notre Dame with last-minute field goal

      Northern Illinois stuns Notre Dame with last-minute field goal

                     Northern Illinois stuns Notre Dame with last-minute field goal

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Kanon Woodill nailed a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds left on the clock, and Cade Haberman blocked a last-second 62-yard attempt to help Northern Illinois pull off a shocking 16-14 upset over No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday.

Haberman’s block on Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter's long field goal attempt sealed the victory, giving the Huskies their first nonconference win against a ranked team since a 19-16 upset over No. 21 Alabama in 2003. It was also Northern Illinois' first-ever victory over a top-10 opponent and the first time a Mid-American Conference (MAC) team had beaten an AP top-five team, ending the conference's 0-51 record in such matchups.

Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock was emotional after the dramatic victory, crediting his team’s effort over any luck.

“We didn’t need luck,” Hammock said. “That was our theme. We just needed to play our best. It wasn’t the cleanest game for us, but we played hard for four quarters, stayed together, and made enough plays to win. This is a program-changing win, no different from when we beat Alabama in 2003."

Hammock praised his team’s physicality and ability to stand up to Notre Dame, defying expectations for a MAC team. “I think we were bigger than they thought," he said. "We’re not a typical MAC team. We're big and physical on both the offensive and defensive lines. I didn’t see it as a mismatch."

Notre Dame (1-1) entered the game as 28.5-point favorites according to ESPN BET, but the loss dropped their odds of winning the national championship from 16-1 to 75-1. Head coach Marcus Freeman expressed his disappointment, especially after the team’s impressive road win against then-No. 20 Texas A&M the previous week.

“As coaches, it’s our job to make sure these guys are ready to go,” Freeman said. “You go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in just two weeks, but we’ve got to own this. Coaches, players—everyone. We’ve got to fix it.”

Notre Dame appeared to be in control late in the fourth quarter, holding onto a 14-13 lead with possession of the ball after a punt with 7:49 remaining. However, Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard threw a costly interception on a deep pass intended for Kris Mitchell. Northern Illinois defensive back Amariyun Knighten picked off the pass and returned it 33 yards to midfield with 5:55 to play.

“It was a completely bad read,” Leonard said. “That safety was attached to the inside post, but I thought he wouldn’t stick with it. Bad eyes, bad feet, bad throw. It’s all on me.”

The Huskies capitalized, driving down the field and running the clock to set up Woodill’s game-winning kick. A critical moment on the drive came when quarterback Ethan Hampton converted a fourth-and-2 with a 3-yard run to keep the drive alive. Hampton, who finished 10-of-19 for 198 yards and a touchdown, set up Woodill’s third field goal of the game to secure the upset.

“It’s amazing,” Hampton said of the victory. “It’s something I’ll remember forever. I grew up a Huskie fan, and playing here has always been a dream.”

Notre Dame struck first in the game, with Riley Leonard scoring an 11-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Northern Illinois quickly responded with an 83-yard touchdown reception by Antario Brown, who broke through two defensive backs on a pass from Hampton.

Woodill added two more field goals, from 42 and 21 yards, to give the Huskies a 13-7 lead at halftime. Notre Dame had a chance to cut the deficit before the break, but Haberman blocked Jeter’s 48-yard field goal attempt.

In the second half, Notre Dame briefly regained the lead when Jeremiyah Love hurdled a defender for a 34-yard touchdown run, putting the Fighting Irish up 14-13 with 8:34 left in the third quarter. However, that lead wouldn't last, as Northern Illinois' defense held strong and their offense drove for the game-winning field goal in the final moments.

Leonard finished the game 20-of-32 for 163 yards and two interceptions, as Notre Dame suffered a stunning defeat that will have lasting implications for their season.

ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press contributed to this report.