Despite entering the college football game as the favored team, Notre Dame Saturday fell to Northern Illinois University 16-14 in a stunning upset in front of a sold-out crowd in South Bend.
But the loss isn't the only thing that stung Notre Dame.
According to reports, Notre Dame was on the hook to pay NIU $1.4 million as part of a previously signed "buy-game contract," one of many college football games referred to as "guaranteed games."
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"For decades, bigger schools have paid smaller institutions large sums to come play on their home turf," Front Office Sports explains. "The host typically gets an easy victory, the visitor gets a nice payday, and everyone leaves happy."
Notre Dame's next "buy game" will be Sept. 21, when the Fighting Irish will host Ohio's Miami University, Notre Dame said. It has agreed to pay $1.25 million, according to a contract signed in May 2021.
And while the money was expected, the loss at home was not.
NIU's Kanon Woodill hit a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds to play, and Cade Haberman blocked a 62-yard try as time expired in Saturday's game.
NCAAF
Haberman blocked the 62-yard attempt by Notre Dame’s Mitch Jeter, allowing the jubilant Huskies to claim their first nonconference victory against a ranked opponent since a 19-16 upset of No. 21 Alabama in 2003. It was also the Huskies’ first victory over a top 10 opponent.
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock was emotional after the dramatic victory.
“We didn’t need luck,” Hammock said. “That was our theme. I didn’t think we needed luck. We just need to play our best. It wasn’t the cleanest for us, but we played hard for four quarters and stayed together. They worked together, they believed, and they made enough plays to win a game.
“This is a program-changing type win, no different than when we beat Alabama a while ago.”
Hammond said his Huskies measured up to Notre Dame.
“I think we were bigger than what they thought,” Hammock said. “We’re not a normal MAC team, in my opinion. We’re big on the offensive and defensive lines and we’re physical. I didn’t look at it as a mismatch in that capacity.”
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said the loss was disappointing, especially on the heels of an impressive road win over then-No. 20 Texas A&M.
“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. “As coaches and players, we’ve got to own it, and we’ve got to fix it.”
Notre Dame (1-1) looked like it was in position to get some separation from Northern Illinois (2-0) as it clung to a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter. The Fighting Irish gained possession after a punt with 7:49 left and drove from their 25 to the Northern Illinois 49.
Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard launched a pass deep up the middle intended for Kris Mitchell, but Amariyun Knighten made the interception and returned it 33 yards to the 50-yard line with 5:55 to play.
“It was a completely bad read,” Leonard said of the interception. “That single high safety was attached to the inside post. I thought he wouldn’t attach again. Bad eyes, bad feet, bad ball. That resulted in a pick. Can’t happen. Completely my fault.”
The Huskies worked the clock and drove to the Notre Dame 19, setting the stage for Woodill’s field goal. A key play on the drive was converting a fourth-and-two with a three-yard run by quarterback Ethan Hampton to the Notre Dame 28.
The first-down conversion from Hampton, who was 10 of 19 for 198 yards and a touchdown, set up the winning field goal from Woodill, his third made kick of the day.
“It’s amazing,” Hampton said of the victory. “It’s something I’ll remember forever. I grew up a Huskie fan. Playing here has been a dream for me.”
Notre Dame struck first as Leonard side-stepped the defense for an 11-yard touchdown run with 8:28 left in the first quarter.
It only took five plays for Northern Illinois to answer as Antario Brown broke loose between two defensive backs for an 83-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Hampton.
A pair of field goals by Woodill from 42 and 21 yards gave the Huskies a 13-7 halftime lead. Notre Dame had the chance to make it 13-10 before half, but Haberman blocked a 48-yard try from Jeter.
Woodill missed a 53-yard field goal attempt on the first possession of the second half, and Notre Dame took advantage.
Jeremiyah Love broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run, hurdling a defender on the way to the end zone. Mitch Jeter’s extra point gave Notre Dame a 14-13 lead with 8:34 left in the third quarter.
Leonard finished 20 of 32 for 163 yards and two interceptions.