Notre Dame upset by Northern Illinios as former South Carolina football kicker is blocked on game-winning attempt

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish were upset on Saturday as they lost to MAC foe Northern Illinois. The top-5 Irish had a chance to win at the end, and a familiar name to South Carolina football fans was at the center of that opportunity.

Former Gamecock kicker Mitch Jeter left the program this offseason in the transfer portal and wound up with Notre Dame. Based on comments from certain other special teams players this offseason, the defection wasn't well-received by the Gamecocks.

On Saturday, in just his second game with his new team (and his first playing at Notre Dame Stadium), Jeter could have given his squad a 17-16 victory with a career-long kick of 62 yards. Instead, Jeter's boot was blocked, and the final seconds of clock ticked away while the ball was recovered by the Huskies. After paying Northern Illinois nearly $1.5 Million for the game, Notre Dame lost 16-14 at home.

You can watch the kick below.

The blocked kick was the second of the game for Jeter as he had a 2nd quarter attempt rejected, as well. The loss does not eliminate Marcus Freeman's team from College Football Playoff contention, but because they do not play in a conference, if the Irish lose again, they could find themselves on the outside looking end this winter.

During his South Carolina football career, Mitch Jeter was the most accurate field goal kicker in program history as he made 23 of 25 kicks across three seasons as the primary kicker for the Gamecocks. Ironically, his two misses via blocks against Northern Illinois matched his total number of missed field goals from his days in Columbia.

Jeter's former team had a better day on Saturday. The Gamecocks traveled to Lexington, Kentucky (only about 5 hours from South Bend, Indiana) and destroyed the rival Kentucky Wildcats 31-6 in a game in which the Carolina defense carried the day.