Sports
Notre Dame’s stunning upset loss to NIU: What went wrong for Irish? Are Playoff hopes gone?
By Pete Sampson, Stewart Mandel and Justin Williams
No. 5 Notre Dame suffered a shocking upset against Northern Illinois, losing 16-14 on Saturday in South Bend after missing a 62-yard field goal on the last play.
The Irish were 28.5-point favorites, per BetMGM, and it’s the first time NIU has beaten a top-10 team in school history.
After Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard threw an interception with 5:55 left while holding a 14-13 lead, NIU drove 31 yards in 11 plays and got a 35-yard field goal from Kanon Woodill to take the lead with 31 seconds left. The Huskies had converted one fourth down en route to the field goal but were denied another first down by a questionable spot a few plays later, forcing them to attempt the go-ahead field goal earlier than hoped. Notre Dame completed a pass into NIU territory in the final seconds before its long field goal attempt was denied.
The loss comes one week after Notre Dame seemingly made an early College Football Playoff statement with a 23-13 win at Texas A&M. Now, the Irish are left picking up the pieces following a loss to a MAC team, the second time the Fighting Irish have lost at home to an opponent from the Group of 5 under third-year coach Marcus Freeman.
“Disappointing. It’s our job as coaches to make sure these guys are ready to go,” Freeman said afterward. “I’ve always said performance is a reflection of preparation.”
This is what it’s all about.
NIU’s @NIUCoachHammock is overcome with emotion after leading his team to the win at Notre Dame! @NIU_Football | @NIUAthletics | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/K7oS9tsrTC
— #MACtion (@MACSports) September 7, 2024
What happened to Notre Dame?
Notre Dame can check its College Football Playoff hopes, which fell to 34 percent immediately after Week 2 in The Athletic’s model from 73 percent — and may look far bleaker than that.
Even if the Irish had held on against Northern Illinois, Notre Dame looked like a shell of itself after last weekend’s statement win at Texas A&M. It all left Freeman exposed at the start of his third season, which looked like a make year last weekend and a break year on Saturday.
For Notre Dame, the loss deflates a season that was supposed to define Freeman’s tenure, one way or another. Now he’s left to explain another loss to a Group of 5 team, after previously losing to Marshall in 2022. Back then, Freeman had the benefit of time. He was supposed to learn on the job as a first-time head coach. This is different. Freeman was supposed to have matured in the job entering his third year, both in roster construction and staff assembly.
Retaining defensive coordinator Al Golden and hiring offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock felt like master strokes. Plucking Leonard out of the portal from Duke felt like genius move. Instead, Notre Dame is nearly drowning in questions two weeks into the season. — Sampson
GO DEEPER
Notre Dame suffers stunning upset to NIU: How did everything go so wrong for Irish?
Notre Dame’s offense deflates Playoff hopes
For the second time in as many weeks, Notre Dame’s new-look offense failed to inspire — and this time it cost them the game. Last week against Texas A&M, the Irish admirably rode a couple of long touchdown runs to victory in College Station, which was enough against an even worse A&M offense. But Saturday’s loss to Northern Illinois put the spotlight squarely on those struggles, particularly in the passing game, as Leonard finished 20-for-32 for 163 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions, after throwing for just 158 yards last week. In total, NIU outgained Notre Dame 388 to 286.
Freeman hired Denbrock this offseason specifically to address these concerns, bringing in a veteran play-caller and someone he worked alongside for a number of years while they were both coordinators at Cincinnati. At LSU last season, Denbrock led the most potent offense in the country in terms of points per game and yards per play, and produced a Heisman-winning QB in the process. Neither that explosiveness nor the familiarity has manifested for Notre Dame yet in 2024, but it needs to if the Irish still have any hopes of reaching the Playoff. And after Saturday, they may not. — Williams
NIU scores biggest win in program history
NIU had its moments over the year — beating No. 21 Alabama in 2003, going to the Orange Bowl in 2012 and producing Heisman finalist Jordan Lynch in 2013 – but beating a top-five Notre Dame team in South Bend is without question the biggest win in program history.
The previous highest-ranked win for the Huskies came against No. 15 Maryland on Aug. 28, 2003. It’s also the highest-ranked opponent a MAC team has ever beaten. The last time the MAC had a top-10 win was on Sept. 20, 2003, when it had two, plus NIU’s win over Alabama on the same day.
Sixth-year head coach and former NIU star running back Thomas Hammock led the Huskies to 2021 MAC championship game, but the team had been just 11-15 since then. NIU tied for third in the MAC’s preseason poll, and we’ll see if this upset becomes the prelude to another championship run.
Remember: The highest-ranked Group of 5 conference champion makes the Playoff. — Mandel
MAC wins vs. AP top-10 teams
| Date | Team | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sept. 7, 2024 |
No. 5 Notre Dame |
16-14 |
|
|
Sept. 20, 2003 |
No. 6 Kansas State |
27-20 |
|
|
Sept. 20, 2003 |
No. 9 Pitt |
35-31 |
|
|
Sept. 20, 1986 |
No. 8 LSU |
21-12 |
|
|
Oct. 13, 1962 |
No. 9 Purdue |
10-7 |
Notre Dame has a quarterback problem
For all the praise directed at Leonard during the past nine months, Saturday was a reminder that little of it has been directed toward his right arm. Leonard has leadership qualities and run-game skills, but he has been a developmental passer two games into his Notre Dame career. For a quarterback with designs on playing at the next level, that must improve before the end of this season.
Leonard didn’t complete a pass of at least 20 yards against Northern Illinois and barely attempted any. He often looked hesitant reading the Northern Illinois defense and was picked off in the first half on a late throw over the middle to Jaden Greathouse. He was later picked off in NIU territory, setting up the Huskies’ winning drive.
The best of Leonard remains his rushing ability, which was ominously obvious on Notre Dame’s touchdown drive to open the game. Leonard had five rushing attempts during that drive, including the touchdown. It was as good as the Duke transfer looked in the game.
During training camp, Denbrock referenced how it took Jayden Daniels until his second season at LSU to master his offense, often not trusting his wideouts during that first fall. Leonard doesn’t have that kind of time. — Sampson
Why Notre Dame’s defense struggled
Notre Dame’s defense staged a professional performance last weekend at Texas A&M. The Irish didn’t allow a run of 10 yards or more. They didn’t allow a pass beyond 20 yards. They gave up just 13 points.
That all fell apart against Northern Illinois as the Huskies worked misdirection into the game plan at the expense of the younger Irish linebackers. Ethan Hampton hit running backs Antario Brown for an 83-yard touchdown in the first quarter with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa in coverage. Brown put up a 43-yard reception later in the quarter. The Huskies also posted a 28-yard run.
.@ethan_hampton4 finds @S1imeBrown and takes it 83-yards to the HOUSE!! @NIU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/ei7PTsK81U
— #MACtion (@MACSports) September 7, 2024
It’s hard to square how Notre Dame’s younger linebackers — Viliamu-Asa, Drayk Bowen, Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry — could regress so much in a each, although Ausberry made a big third-down stop and a fourth-down pass break-up in the second half. Whatever the reason, Golden and linebackers coach Max Bullough have a problem to solve heading toward next week’s game against Purdue.
Jack Kiser might be a reliable captain of the defense, but he needs help. — Sampson
“We’re 1-1. We have to accept that fact. But we have a long season ahead of us.” – Xavier Watts
— Pete Sampson (@PeteSampson_) September 7, 2024
What’s next?
Notre Dame resumes its in-state rivalry against Purdue with a trip to West Lafayette next Saturday, followed by home games against Miami (OH) and Louisville before an Oct. 5 idle date.
NIU has an off week to celebrate its monumental win in South Bend before hosting Buffalo on Sept. 21 and visiting NC State for another chance at a Power 4 upset on Sept. 28.
(Photo: Brian Spurlock / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The highly anticipated 30th WNBA season tipped off Friday with three games, including the expansion Toronto Tempo’s first-ever contest.
The action continued Saturday with a full slate, including Caitlin Clark’s return after an injury-riddled sophomore season.
Clark and the Indiana Fever hosted the Dallas Wings on Saturday afternoon in a matchup featuring the four most recent No. 1 overall picks. The Wings outlasted the Fever 107-104, but the game was defined by Azzi Fudd’s — the most recent top pick — underwhelming debut.
Dallas Wings guards Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers react during the first half of the Fever’s season opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on May 9, 2026. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Fudd played 18 minutes off the bench, scoring three points — the lowest ever by a No. 1 overall pick in a WNBA debut.
Wings coach Jose Fernandez addressed Fudd’s performance after the game, encouraging the rookie to, “Keep doing what she’s doing, it’s her first year in the league. We got five really talented backcourt players.”
EX-WNBA STAR CRITICAL OF SKY ROOKIE HAILEY VAN LITH, BELIEVES POPULARITY PLAYED ROLE IN DRAFT SELECTION
In addition to Fudd, Dallas’ backcourt features last year’s top draft pick Paige Bueckers, last season’s No. 12 overall pick Aziaha James, four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale and starting guard Odyssey Sims.
Until Saturday, Kelsey Plum held the record for the lowest-scoring debut by a No. 1 pick. Selected first overall by the then-San Antonio Stars in 2017, she scored just four points in her debut. The Stars relocated to Las Vegas in 2018 and was subsequently rebranded as the Aces.
Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd warms up before the game against the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 9, 2026. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Despite the slow start to her first season in the league, Plum ended the year with All-Rookie team honors. In the years since, she’s been named to four All-Star teams and won two championships with the Aces.
The Wings’ decision to take Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick drew controversy, raising questions about whether Bueckers’ personal relationship with her influenced the selection. Late last month, Bueckers said last month it did not.
Azzi Fudd poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed in New York City on April 13, 2026. (Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
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“Azzi Fudd was the No. 1 draft pick because she earned it, and it had nothing to do with me and everything to do with who she is as a human being, who she is as a basketball player,” Bueckers said, according to ESPN.
Neither Bueckers nor Fudd has publicly updated their relationship status since the April draft.
“Quite frankly, I believe me and Azzi’s personal relationship is nobody’s business but our own,” Bueckers also said in April. “And what we choose to share is completely up to us.”
Next up, the Wings play their home opener on Tuesday when they host the Atlanta Dream.
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The Lakers are one playoff defeat from their season being over and from the conversation turning to LeBron James’ future.
They are in a hole no team has climbed out of in the history of the NBA, the Lakers’ 131-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 putting L.A. down 3-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series.
James and his teammates gave a gallant effort Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, but the defending champion proved to be more than the Lakers could handle.
James finished his night with 19 points on seven-for-19 shooting, eight assists and six rebounds. Rui Hachimura had 21 points and Austin Reaves finished with 17 points and nine assists.
Even so, the Lakers have now lost all three games by double digits.
And the Lakers are fully aware that no NBA team has successfully come back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, with those teams holding a 161-0 record. Only four teams have forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-0, all of which ultimately lost the series, including the Boston Celtics in 2023.
Lakers forward LeBron James shows frustration as Thunder center Chet Holmgren slam dunks during Game 3 on Saturday night.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Game 4 is Monday night, when the Lakers will try to stave off elimination and a night that will determine how the conversations go with James if they lose.
James has been frequently asked this season about retirement, but he has not given any indication of what the future holds for him.
He’s 41 years old and playing in an NBA-record 23rd season.
James is in the final year of his contract that pays him $52 million, making him a free agent this offseason. He can retire, join another team or perhaps return to the Lakers next season.
That will be the conversation if the Lakers can’t win Game 4.
They will see the same Thunder team that had seven players score in double figures, led by Ajay Mitchell’s 24 points and 10 assists and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 23 points and nine assists.
The Lakers went down 13 in the third quarter and had to play catchup the rest of the way. They never did, going down by 112-94 with 6 minutes and 12 seconds left, forcing Lakers coach JJ Redick to call a timeout.
The deficit just kept growing, topping out at 27 points in the fourth.
They were outscored 33-20 in the third quarter. The Lakers didn’t take care of the basketball in the third, turning it over six times, and they didn’t play good defense, allowing the Thunder to shoot 59.1% from the field and 55.6 percent from three-point range,
The Lakers did not give an inch to the Thunder in the first half, even when they fell behind by 10 points.
They just kept grinding until they led 59-57 at halftime.
Hachimura had 16 points in the first half, continuing his hot three-point shooting by making all four of his threes. Luke Kennard came off the bench to give the Lakers 13 points, shooting five for six from the field and three for four from three-point range.
The Lakers kept the pressure defense on Gilgeous-Alexander. Though he had 14 points in the first half, he shot only four for 14 from the field and one for five from three-point range.
The Lakers shot 55% from three-point range in the first half, which went a long way in helping them.
The Lakers lost the first two games by identical margins of 18 points and each loss was magnified because Gilgeous-Alexander was kept under wraps for the most part by L.A.’s defense.
When Gilgeous-Alexander picked up his fourth foul with 10:34 left in the third quarter of Game 2 and went to the bench, the Thunder turned a five-point lead into a 13-point advantage at the end of the quarter.
So, when he wasn’t on the court, the Lakers failed to take advantage.
“Well, you know, again, I’ll repeat what I said after the game: we’ve got to be better in the non-Shai minutes,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
Role players like Mitchell and Jared McCain hurt the Lakers in the second game. Chet Holmgren also was hard to deal with.
“Mitchell and McCain have hurt us in those non-Shai minutes, and then Chet [Holmgren] has hurt us the whole game,” Redick said. “I think you’ve got to be willing to live with something. Shai playing one-on-one, thus far in the series, we haven’t been willing to live with, so you’re going to be in rotation. That can lead to smalls on bigs at the hole, and the offensive rebounding from Chet has really hurt us.”
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In 2025, Alex Palou kicked off the Month of May with a Sonsio Grand Prix win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
Based on the odds, it’s likely that Palou will find himself in Winner’s Circle again this Saturday when INDYCAR goes back to IMS on May 9 (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX).
Considering Palou has already captured the checkered flag three times this season, are there any other drivers whose odds are worth a wager?
Here are the latest lines at DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 9.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
Sonsio Grand Prix 2026
Àlex Palou: 5/18 (bet $10 to win $12.78 total)
Kyle Kirkwood: 5/1 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Pato O’Ward: 12/1 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
David Malukas: 14/1 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Josef Newgarden: 16/1 (bet $10 to win $170 total)
Scott McLaughlin: 20/1 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Christian Lundgaard: 30/1 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Scott Dixon: 40/1 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Will Power: 60/1 (bet $10 to win $610 total)
Felix Rosenqvist: 80/1 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Alexander Rossi: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Marcus Ericsson: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Marcus Armstrong: 100/1 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Christian Rasmussen: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Graham Rahal: 150/1 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
Louis Foster: 300/1 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total)
Dennis Hauger: 500/1 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Romain Grosjean: 500/1 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Santino Ferrucci: 500/1 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Rinus Veekay: 500/1 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Kyffin Simpson: 500/1 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total)
Caio Collet: 1000/1 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Sting Ray Robb: 1000/1 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Nolan Siegel: 1000/1 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Mick Schumacher: 1000/1 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
Here’s what to know about the oddsboard:
Heavy Favorite: It doesn’t look like Alex Palou’s dominance will be slowing down anytime soon. As noted above, he’s already won three of the five races since the INDYCAR season started in March. With 186 laps led, Palou sits first in the standings and has the shortest odds to win the title again. Last season, he started from the pole and led 29 laps before winning the race.
Long Shot to Watch: While his odds of 150/1 to win at IMS are much longer than Palou’s, Graham Rahal is one to watch. At this race in 2025, he started second and led 49 laps before finishing sixth. He finished second at this course in 2015, 2020 and 2023. He’s currently 10th in the INDYCAR standings, with one top five and three top 10s.
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