Historic Upset: Northern Illinois Stuns No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend

In a thrilling upset that sent shockwaves through the college football world, unranked Northern Illinois pulled off a stunning 16-14 victory over the fifth-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday in South Bend, Indiana.

Northern Illinois kicker Kanon Woodill's 35-yard field goal with just one minute remaining proved to be the decisive blow in the Huskies' improbable triumph over the powerhouse Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame, coming off an impressive road victory over Texas A&M, appeared to be in control as they clung to a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter. However, the Fighting Irish's hopes of extending their lead were extinguished when linebacker Amariyun Knighten picked off a pass from quarterback Riley Leonard and returned it 33 yards to the 50-yard line with less than six minutes left.

Historic Upset: Northern Illinois Stuns No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend

The interception set the stage for Woodill's game-winning field goal, which capped off a remarkable drive by the Huskies. The victory not only marked Northern Illinois' first nonconference win against a ranked opponent since 2003 but also gave the Huskies their first ever victory against a team ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25.

The upset was a testament to the determination and resilience of the Huskies, who overcame a slow start and several key injuries to pull off the stunning upset. Northern Illinois coach Thomas Hammock was overcome with emotion after the game, praising his team's unwavering belief and hard work.

Historic Upset: Northern Illinois Stuns No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend

"I'm so proud of our kids, the coaches, everybody," Hammock said during a postgame television interview. "They believed. They believed, and we came in and got it done."

Notre Dame's hopes of starting the season with a perfect record were shattered by the upset loss. The Fighting Irish are likely to take a significant tumble in the rankings and will face a tough test when they travel to West Lafayette next week to take on Purdue.

Historic Upset: Northern Illinois Stuns No. 5 Notre Dame in South Bend

Meanwhile, Northern Illinois enjoys a bye week before hosting Buffalo on September 21. The Huskies' improbable victory has sent shockwaves through the college football world and has given them a boost of confidence as they look ahead to the rest of the season.