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Riley Leonard, No. 5 Notre Dame Ripped as CFP Pretenders After Upset Loss to NIU

Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Notre Dame looked like a team capable of reaching the College Football Playoff a week ago when it took down Texas A&M in College Station.

The No. 5 Fighting Irish looked far from a championship-caliber team in a 16-14 upset loss to Northern Illinois on Saturday.

Notre Dame's woes started early as the Huskies went into the second quarter trailing 10-7. Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard threw his first interception of the game in the second quarter, leading to a Northern Illinois field goal to make it 13-7.

Notre Dame's frustrations boiled over on the final play of the half as its last-second field goal attempt was blocked by the Huskies and nearly returned for a touchdown.