Title: Coach Hammock rooting for Notre Dame in CFP Championship, despite NIU ties
Last Thursday evening, Northern Illinois football coach Thomas Hammock found himself in Orlando, Florida, offering his support to two Hula Bowl participants. Despite being so close, Hammock couldn't resist the appeal of the College Football Playoff semifinal taking place 220 miles south in Miami Gardens. And he was thrilled when Notre Dame's Mitch Jeter successfully kicked a 41-yard field goal with just seven seconds left, securing the Irish's 27-24 triumph over Penn State.
Four months earlier, Northern Illinois' Cade Haberman had blocked Jeter's 62-yard attempt as time expired, delivering the Huskies an unlikely 16-14 victory. Notre Dame, who were heavily favored, had been on a roll since then, winning 13 consecutive games, marking the longest streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Meanwhile, Northern Illinois' victory over Notre Dame continued to be the team's most notable event of the season.
Hammock shared his feelings about Notre Dame's success during a phone interview on Friday, expressing his pride in what the Irish had achieved since their defeat. "It definitely comes up a lot more outside of our building," Hammock admitted. "You get in the season and you play the game and you move on to the next one, but I'm certainly excited about what Notre Dame has been able to do."
The Huskies managed to stay competitive against Notre Dame thanks to their impressive offensive and defensive lines, avoiding turnovers and intercepting Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard twice. The second interception, made with 5:55 left, gave Northern Illinois an opportunity to march down the field and clinch victory with a game-winning 35-yard field goal.
Following the loss to Notre Dame, Northern Illinois' form dipped, with two defeats and four losses in six games. However, the team managed to finish on a high note, winning four of their last five games, capping the season with a 28-20 victory over Fresno State in the Potato Bowl two days before Christmas. The result marked the third consecutive season in which the Huskies finished above .500.
As Northern Illinois looked to rebuild and boost their roster through high school recruiting and the transfer portal, their victory over Notre Dame proved to be a powerful selling point. Players have been drawn to the school due to their historic victory against a top-10 team and their first win against a ranked team in 21 years.
Recently, Northern Illinois announced their intention to join the Mountain West Conference for football-only starting in 2026. A significant step up from the Mid-American Conference, the move would provide the Huskies with greater resources and opportunities.
As the team continued to excel in the College Football Playoff, Hammock was unable to ignore the impact of their loss to Northern Illinois. The Irish responded to their defeat by focusing on their collective effort and rebuilding. Soon, they were back to their best, winning their final 10 regular season games by an average of more than 30 points each. Despite being seeded seventh, they overcame higher-seeded opponents Indiana (No. 10), Georgia (No. 2), and Penn State (No. 6) in the playoffs.
The loss to Northern Illinois proved to be a blessing in disguise for Notre Dame, as it served as a reminder to stay grounded and focused on the team's primary objective. "I really can say it's a blessing that we lost to (NIU)," Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray told ESPN's Molly McGrath after their victory over Penn State.
Hammock shared his sentiments, praising the Irish's resilience and team spirit. "Normally, you are objective. But in this particular case, I certainly want to see Notre Dame have as much success as they want...They've gotten better as the season has went along. I think that speaks volumes to coach (Marcus) Freeman and to the leadership and to the players in that program of how they’ve been able to block out the noise, limit the distractions and play their best football each and every single week."
Despite the lure of traveling to Atlanta to watch the championship game, Hammock decided to stay in Illinois and support the high school players and transfer students who had joined the Huskies in January. "I'm certainly rooting for Notre Dame," Hammock declared. "I’m a Marcus Freeman fan. I love his humility, his leadership, everything that he’s done since I met him during that game. I wish him nothing but the best."
After the Hula Bowl, Coach Hammock recognized the financial and promotional benefits of Notre Dame's success, stating, "Their success in the College Football Playoff has definitely helped our recruiting efforts." Furthermore, the triumph over Notre Dame continues to attract talented players to the Huskies, with many drawn by the opportunity to be part of a team that defeated a top-10 team.
