In a stunning upset that will be remembered for years to come, the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Huskies defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 16-14 on Sept. 7 in South Bend, IN.

The victory marked a significant milestone for NIU, who had not defeated a ranked opponent since 2003.

The game was not only a major upset but also a costly one for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were obligated to pay NIU $1.4 million as part of a previously signed ‘buy-game’ contract, a common practice in college football where larger schools pay smaller institutions to play on their home turf.

Despite entering the game as the favorites, Notre Dame struggled to gain momentum against the determined Huskies. NIU’s defense held strong, forcing turnovers and limiting the Fighting Irish’s offensive opportunities.

The game’s turning point came in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. With Notre Dame leading 14-13, NIU quarterback Ethan Hampton led his team on a crucial drive, culminating in a 35-yard field goal by Kanon Woodill to give the Huskies a 16-14 lead. The Fighting Irish had one last chance to win the game, but their 62-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Cade Haberman, sealing NIU’s victory.

Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock expressed his pride and gratitude for his team’s performance as he struggled to fight back tears.

“I am so proud of our kids, our coaches. They believed,” Hammock said after the game. “I told them ‘We don’t need luck, we just need to be our best,’ and today, we got it done.”

On the opposite side of the ball, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged the disappointment of the loss but emphasized the need for improvement.

“You know, it’s our job as coaches to make sure these guys are ready to go. You go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a tale of two weeks, but we’ve got to own this thing,” Freeman said. “The entire program underachieved today. The entire program has to own it and improve from it.”

The NIU-Notre Dame upset is likely to be remembered as one of the most memorable games of the 2024 season and the season has only just begun.