Northern Illinois University (NIU) achieved a historic upset by defeating No. 5 Notre Dame 16-14, marking the Mid-American Conference's first win over a top-five team. Coach Thomas Hammock praised the bye week that followed the victory, allowing players to recover and absorb the attention from the win. Meanwhile, Notre Dame fans are reeling from the loss, expressing hurt and uncertainty about the team's future, despite the acknowledgment from players that the season is not over. Quarterback Riley Leonard took responsibility for the defeat, recognizing the need for improvement ahead of their next game against Purdue. The victory has also highlighted the challenges faced by Group of Five schools in retaining talent amid increasing competition from Power Five programs. The landscape of college football continues to evolve, raising concerns about player retention and the disparity in resources between conferences.