Acknowledge Notre Dame had several thumping wins in 2023 and is on a 10-3 spread run since last season. But after that emotional opening night win vs. Texas A&M, perhaps this is a spot for a bit of a letdown vs. a MAC opponent. NIU is not an ordinary underdog, either, especially as across the past two seasons, the underdog in Huskies games recorded a 20-4 spread mark, with NIU covering seven of its last nine getting points. Thomas Hammock teams usually run the ball effectively and slashing RB Antario Brown (1296 YR in 2023) leads a deep and versatile stable of RBs. As for QB Ethan Hampton, he tossed 5 TDP in the opener (albeit vs. outclassed FCS rep Western Illinois), but has plenty of experience in the program and started several games in 2022 when starter Rocky Lombardi was sidelined. Play Northern Illinois