Notre Dame Faces Uphill Battle to Get Into College Football Playoffs After Devastating Loss

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks to the scoreboard during an NCAA college football game against Northern Illinois in South Bend, Ind, on Sept. 7, 2024. Michael Caterina/AP Photo

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said his team got too caught up in their hype in the loss to Northern Illinois—one of the biggest upsets in program history.

The Fighting Irish entered the game 28.5-point favorites but lost 16–14 on Sept. 7. The loss dropped Notre Dame from No. 5 in the AP poll to No. 18 this week, and the Fighting Irish now face an uphill battle to make the College Football Playoff, which expanded to a 12-team format this season.

After beating No. 20 Texas A&M 23–13 in the season opener, Notre Dame had a 71 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Allstate Playoff Predictor. The Fighting Irish now have a 23 percent chance of entering the postseason following the setback to Northern Illinois.

“I think we have to learn to handle success,” Freeman said at his weekly press conference on Sept. 9 as the team prepared for Purdue. “That is what really spoke to me watching the film.”

Northern Illinois kicker Kanon Woodill converted the go-ahead 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds to play. Notre Dame took the ensuing kickoff and moved the ball into Huskies’ territory in the closing seconds. However, Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter had his 62-yard field goal attempt blocked by Northern Illinois defensive tackle Cade Haberman as time expired to secure the upset.

Moving forward, Notre Dame needs to improve several areas in all three facets of its team—offense, defense, and special teams—heading into the game against the Boilermakers, who opened their season with a 49–0 win over Indiana State.

“There is a physical approach to preparing for a game, and I think physically we prepared the right way, but there’s also a mental approach and a mindset that you have to have every single week, and I think that’s where we failed,” Freeman said at his press conference. “This week matters. Who cares about the rest of that stuff, man? We’ve got to take care of this week, and that’s got to be our mindset.”

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is having some challenges behind an inexperienced offensive line that has three sophomores and two freshmen in the rotation. Leonard struggled against Northern Illinois, completing 20 of 32 pass attempts for 163 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Leonard is a first-year starter for Notre Dame after transferring from Duke. He was named a team captain and is on the 2024 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List. Leonard will be the starter moving forward.

“There are times that he has to throw the ball better,” Freeman said at the press conference, which ran for close to 30 minutes. “His decision-making has to be better, but we also have to be better around him. That’s coaches, and what we’re asking him to do and what we’re asking him to read. We’ve got to catch the ball when he throws it. We’ve got to be better on contested catches. There are fingers at everybody. We’re pointing our finger at everybody.”

There is plenty of football left in the season, and Notre Dame can win its remaining games to potentially get back into the college football playoff field. However, to move up in the rankings, the Fighting Irish might need the teams in front of them to lose games.

It’s not an ideal situation for one of college football’s most storied programs.

“Nobody’s gonna feel sorry for us,” Freeman said. “I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for us. Let’s go. I’m a competitor. I’m surrounded by competitors. Let’s get back to work, and let’s challenge each other.”