Last time cleats collided with the turf at the historic Notre Dame Stadium, the upset heard around the world transpired. Two Saturdays ago, Northern Illinois set off a week-long celebration for the Mid-American Conference as the Huskies stormed into the environment and knocked off a then-No. 5 Notre Dame team, 16-14, by blocking a field goal at the buzzer.
After losing its first matchup against the MAC this season, Notre Dame sought revenge on the league with the reigning MAC champions on the other sideline. The Fighting Irish exorcised the demons from Northern Illinois and erased Miami (OH), 28-3, upending a RedHawks squad led by Chuck Martin who served as a Notre Dame assistant from 2010-13.
The first quarter made the game look primed for another low-scoring defensive slugfest, similar to that Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois matchup in Week 2. Neither offense notched a single point in the first quarter, although Miami showed signs of promise offensively. The RedHawks threw an interception deep in Notre Dame territory on their opening drive, and their second series also stalled in Fighting Irish territory, firing an incompletion on a 3rd and 6…