Thomas Hammock doesn't like the "upset" label that's often tagged on his team's 16-14 win last season over eventual national runners up Notre Dame . Sure, the Huskies were the first MAC team to ever beat a top 5 opponent. And sure, the Irish were a 28-point favorite. But to Hammock, the word "upset" implies something flukey occurred.

That not what happened. Northern Illinois won the line of scrimmage. It didn't allow a sack. It limited Notre Dame's top 10 rushing attack to just 4.4 yards per touch.

"If you go back and watch the game and put blank jerseys on both teams, you'd say it was a tremendous physical affair of teams going back and forth, and you can't tell which one has $20 million and which one don't," Hammock said. 2025 College Football Conference Power Rankings: SEC s

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