Notre Dame’s playoff hopes have taken a major hit after a surprising upset to Northern Illinois. The Fighting Irish entered the season with high expectations, especially following a strong victory over Texas A&M. That win had positioned Notre Dame as a legitimate contender for a prime spot in the College Football Playoff (CFP), possibly even a coveted No. 5 seed, which would have given them a home game in South Bend and an easier path through the playoff bracket.
However, that dream has now been thrown into jeopardy. The unexpected loss to Northern Illinois has stripped the Irish of their leverage. Now, the margin for error is gone. Notre Dame must win every game remaining on their schedule to keep their playoff aspirations alive. Any further losses would likely eliminate them from contention altogether.
Could Notre Dame still make the playoff with a 10-2 record? It’s possible, however it’s a ways from a guarantee. A two-loss Notre Dame team would face a more difficult path. In a best-case scenario, they might scrape into the playoff as a lower seed. This would mean not only a tougher opening-round game but also facing more difficult opponents throughout the bracket. Additionally, the loss to a team like Northern Illinois, which isn’t considered a powerhouse, could weigh heavily against Notre Dame when compared to other teams from power conferences like the SEC or Big Ten, who may have stronger résumés with the same or better records.
This loss also introduces uncertainty regarding how the playoff committee will evaluate Notre Dame’s performance. The committee tends to weigh a variety of factors when making their selections, including the strength of schedule, the quality of wins and losses, and the overall context of a team’s season. Losing to a non-powerhouse team like Northern Illinois, especially at home, could be seen as a major blemish on Notre Dame’s résumé, especially if other playoff contenders don’t have similar bad losses.
The best-case scenario for Notre Dame now is to run the table and finish the season at 11-1. If they manage that, the committee might still overlook the loss to Northern Illinois, especially if other contenders stumble along the way. However, even with an 11-1 record, the loss could take them out of the running for an ideal seed, such as the No. 5 spot, which would have allowed them to host a game at Notre Dame Stadium.
For Notre Dame fans, the focus now has to shift to the future. The path to the playoff isn’t impossible, but it’s much more challenging. The team must avoid any further missteps and hope that the loss to Northern Illinois doesn’t come back to haunt them in the playoff selection process.
In the end, everything depends on how Notre Dame performs for the rest of the season, as well as how other top teams around the country fare. While the loss stings now, Notre Dame still controls its own destiny — but only if it plays perfectly from here on out.
Notre Dame’s playoff dreams took a massive hit following a shocking 16-14 upset loss to Northern Illinois. The Fighting Irish, a 28-point favorite heading into the game, were outplayed at home for the third time under coach Marcus Freeman. This loss, marking Notre Dame’s biggest upset since 1995, disintegrated the momentum they had built after a big season-opening win over Texas A&M.
Freeman’s tenure has now seen three losses as a heavy favorite, raising serious questions about the program’s consistency and preparedness. In just over two seasons, Notre Dame has now lost as massive home favorites to Northern Illinois, Marshall, and Stanford. Saturday’s defeat not only crushed their playoff path but also showcased deeper issues within the program, especially Freeman’s ability to get his team ready for seemingly “easier” matchups.
Northern Illinois didn’t just pull off a fluke win — they dominated Notre Dame in the trenches, blocking two field goals and converting key third downs. The Irish offense was out of rhythm all afternoon, managing only 286 yards, while the Huskies, led by running back Antario Brown, gained over 100 more yards. Brown totaled 225 all-purpose yards and a touchdown, overpowering Notre Dame’s defense, which had been one of the few bright spots for the Irish.
The biggest problem for Notre Dame, though, was their quarterback, Riley Leonard. After leading the Irish to a gritty win over Texas A&M the week before, Leonard struggled mightily against Northern Illinois. He completed 20 of 32 passes for just 163 yards, threw two costly interceptions, and was largely bottled up by the Huskies’ defense. His second interception, in particular, was disastrous, as it occurred with 6:31 left in the game, setting up Northern Illinois for their game-winning drive.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, who had coached Jayden Daniels to a Heisman Trophy at LSU last season, couldn’t find answers to keep Notre Dame’s offense in sync. Their last four drives after taking a 14-13 lead were abysmal: two three-and-outs, an interception, and a blocked field goal. Notre Dame’s offensive line struggled to protect Leonard and open up running lanes, while Northern Illinois’ defense played physical press coverage to neutralize Notre Dame’s receivers.
For Northern Illinois coach Thomas Hammock, the victory was historic. The Huskies became the first MAC team to beat a top-five opponent in 52 attempts, and they earned a The Huskies became the first MAC team to beat a top-five opponent in 52 attempts, and they earned a $1.4 million payout for the trip to South Bend..4 million payout for the trip to South Bend. Hammock, who has kept his team intact despite the temptations of the transfer portal, emotionally praised his players for their resilience and commitment after the game. The Huskies’ win will go down as one of the biggest in MAC history, adding to their reputation for upsetting power-conference teams.
Meanwhile, Freeman faces increasing scrutiny as Notre Dame continues to falter in games where they are heavily favored. Notre Dame was nearly unbeatable against unranked teams under former coach Brian Kelly, but under Freeman, they’ve repeatedly failed to deliver in similar situations. This latest loss raises serious doubts about Freeman’s leadership and whether more major changes are needed within the program to stop these shocking defeats.
Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame with a 16-13 upset in the Irish’s home opener Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams, with Notre Dame entering as a heavy favorite, ranked No. 7 withinside the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 5 in the AP Poll. Northern Illinois, unranked and from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), shocked the Irish, handing them a devastating loss that significantly impacted their playoff hopes.
The Huskies’ victory was a result of their physicality and consistent execution in critical moments. Notre Dame struggled throughout the game to establish any offensive rhythm, while Northern Illinois capitalized on key opportunities. The Irish, now 1-1 on the season, managed only 286 total yards and were outgained by more than 100 yards by the Huskies.
Notre Dame’s offense was plagued by inconsistency. Quarterback Riley Leonard, who shined in the previous week’s victory over Texas A&M, had a difficult outing. He finished 20 of 32 passes for 163 yards however threw high priced interceptions. His second interception, late in the fourth quarter, set up Northern Illinois for the game-winning drive. Leonard’s struggles, combined with an ineffective offensive line and running game, led to Notre Dame’s inability to sustain drives.
The key moments of the game came down to Northern Illinois’ special teams and clutch third-down conversions. The Huskies blocked two Notre Dame field goal attempts — one to end the first half and another in the closing seconds of the game, sealing the victory. Notre Dame’s final attempt at a 62-yard field goal was blocked by Northern Illinois’ Cade Haberman, ending any hope of a last-second Irish comeback.
Northern Illinois’ offense was led by running back Antario Brown, who accumulated 225 all-purpose yards, including a touchdown. Brown’s performance, combined with the Huskies’ experienced offensive line, allowed Northern Illinois to control the clock and outmuscle Notre Dame in the trenches. On the final drive, Northern Illinois marched down the field, and kicker Kanon Woodill nailed a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds left, giving the Huskies a 16-13 lead.
Notre Dame’s defense, typically a strength under head coach Marcus Freeman, did its part, but the offense’s inability to capitalize on opportunities proved too much to overcome. After taking a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame’s last four drives ended with two three-and-outs, an interception, and a blocked field goal.
For Northern Illinois, this victory marks one of the biggest in the program’s history, especially against a top-five team. The Huskies improved to 2-0 on the season, while Notre Dame’s loss marked their third under Freeman when favored by 16 points or more at home.
The loss is a major setback for Notre Dame, whose College Football Playoff hopes are now severely diminished. The Irish must regroup quickly as they prepare for the rest of their schedule, while Northern Illinois will savor their monumental victory, which solidified their place in college football history.