ESPN announcer invokes Notre Dame upset on game-clinching NIU sack vs. Fresno State

ESPN’s call of the game-winning for Northern Illinois in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl seemingly took a jab at Notre Dame. Of course the Fighting Irish infamously suffered a 16-14 loss at home to the Huskies in Week 2 of this season, the only blemish on their record.

As NIU came up with the sack in overtime to end the game and walk away with a 28-20 victory over Fresno State, play-by-play analyst Lowell Galindo invoked that upset win from earlier this season.

“Ballgame! Huskies, celebrating like it’s South Bend!” he said on the call.

LET THE FRIES FLY 🍟🍟🍟@NIU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/BgrnsSxqwD

— MACtion (@MACSports) December 23, 2024

Northern Illinois got a big game from quarterback Josh Holst, who threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 65 yards in the win against Fresno State. The Huskies got down 13-3 early before rallying back to tie the game and send it to overtime.

The teams were still tied after the first extra period, but the Huskies got the ball and struck first in the second OT. After that, the defense came through with the stop to secure the win.

Notre Dame has not lost since the game against Northern Illinois and most recently earned a first-round College Football Playoff victory against Indiana. With that, the Fighting Irish move on to face Georgia in the quarterfinals at 8:45 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day.

Marcus Freeman admits fear of losing is a motivator in College Football Playoff for Notre Dame

Marcus Freeman knows fear can be a powerful motivator and in the Notre Dame head coach’s case, it’s the fear of losing. The Fighting Irish’s lone loss this season was to Northern Illinois, which happened to be at home.

“Fear is a motivator. It is what it is,” Freeman said. “A lot of people are motivated by fear agree, and there’s times that I have to remind myself, what’s the result of not preparing the right way? But sometimes it takes the performance that we have versus NIU to go back and say, okay, hold on. What lessons do we have to learn? If you knew exactly what it took, the perfect formula, you would correct it right? When it’s not right. But sometimes it takes going back and saying, okay, where didn’t we prepare the right way? And that’s after a win too.”

Fear of losing? Freeman definitely has it being the favorite in this first round playoff game. But perhaps that driving force is what made this team better than the others he’s had.

It landed him a contract extension after all.

“There’s situations that happen in a win that you got to go back and say, Okay, we didn’t perform the way we needed to in this situation, third down offense, third down defense, personnel, whatever the situation may be, special teams, hold on, is our preparation,” Freeman said. “Is this something that’s showing up in practice? If it’s not okay, was this a schematic thing that we weren’t ready for? And I think that’s the mindset I have.”

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.