After a big win over Army, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ranked in the top five of the Week 14 AP Poll. They currently hold a record of 10-1, with their final game coming against USC. And, since Notre Dame is an Independent with no conference championship game, unless they lose to USC, their at-large bid in the College Football Playoff is all but guaranteed. But the Fighting Irish did suffer a worse loss than any of the other playoff contenders this season when they fell to Northern Illinois 16-14 at home. This loss was embarrassing for the program, but now it appears to have no real affect.
Notre Dame’s Embarrassing Loss

Notre Dame’s loss to Northern Illinois was a perfect example of a trap game. The Fighting Irish were coming off a huge 23-13 victory over Texas A&M, who was ranked #20 at the time. It was a statement win in prime time and in a tough environment. Many believed that the win cemented Notre Dame as a contending team that could make a championship run. However, the narrative quickly changed the following week. Riding high, the Irish went into a home game against a far inferior Northern Illinois and were stunned.
This loss was easily one of the biggest upsets of the college football season. Northern Illinois is currently 6-5 and barely bowl eligible in the MAC, yet they defeated one of college football’s highest ranked teams on the road. Notre Dame’s quarterback, Riley Leonard only threw for 163 yards and two interceptions. Those interceptions set up multiple scoring drives for the Huskies. The Irish also missed multiple field goals that would have won them the game.
They entered the game ranked #5 in the AP Poll, and the loss moved them down to #18, when they arguably should have been moved down even more. Now, Notre Dame is back at #5 in the AP Poll due to a lighter schedule and other team’s missteps.
The Luck of the Irish

Throughout the season, the Irish have played four ranked teams. Out of those four, Texas A&M and Army are the only two teams still ranked, as Louisville and Navy have dropped from the rankings. Outside of those wins, most of Notre Dame’s opponents have been the lower half of the ACC and Big 10. This is not a new phenomenon for the Irish, because of their independent status. But, with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, a schedule with no opponents ranked above #15 and no conference championship game makes their path much easier.
Notre Dame has also had the benefit of other team’s mistakes. Powerhouse programs like Georgia, Alabama, and others have suffered multiple losses, allowing the Irish to pass them in the rankings. While conferences like the SEC and Big 10 have expanded, added more successful programs, it has improved the conferences talent-wise, but also made them overstuffed with teams. So, this season, during conference play, those teams have been beating up on each other, especially in the SEC. Now, many of the SEC’s best teams have two or even three losses while the Irish can get by with one loss and no conference championship.
Another aspect is Notre Dame being favored over other one loss teams. Indiana just had their first loss of the season to #2 Ohio State. A loss to Ohio State is far more forgiving than a loss to Northern Illinois at home, but Indiana is now ranked behind Notre Dame. The same can be said for SMU, whose one loss came from #19 BYU. A single loss to a ranked team somehow has these programs in a worse position than Notre Dame, who had one of the most embarrassing losses of the season.
The Irish have the record worthy of a College Football Playoff bid. They should get in over any three loss SEC team. But it is still interesting to see how forgotten the Northern Illinois loss has become.