Notre Dame followed a disastrous performance in the desert with an unconscionable giveaway on its own turf as the Irish fell by 43-40 in overtime to the lowly Northwestern Wildcats. The loss dropped Notre Dame to 7-3 on the season, but what is far more disturbing is the manner in which the offense, defense, special teams and coaching staff completely unraveled. The Irish held a 40-29 lead with less than five minutes remaining, but could not keep Northwestern from tying and ultimately winning the game on clutch field goals by unheralded kicker Jack Mitchell.

Mitchell, who had not booted a three-pointer from more than 29 yards prior to this game, hit from 45 yards with 19 seconds left in regulation and nailed a 41-yarder in overtime after Notre Dame’s Kyle Brindza missed from a similar distance. The injury-riddled Irish defense continued to surrender points at an alarming rate. The Wildcats gained over 530 yards, which is 200 yards more than its seasonal average. The hosts countered with 500 yards of their own, but turnovers and poor clock management negated any successes.

Special teams also contributed heavily to the loss. A first quarter extra point attempt was botched by new holder Malik Zaire, resulting in a blocked attempt and return for two points by Northwestern’s Nick VanHoose. This turned an expected 14-7 lead into a 13-9 score. At the end of the first half, the recently shaky Brindza missed a 38-yard field goal after a goal line interception by Matthias Farley had given his team some momentum in a wild first half. The senior also shanked a couple of punts, the last of which set up a crucial fourth quarter drive by the Wildcats to claw back within three points.

The most egregious failure, however, was a coaching decision by Brian Kelly to go for two following a touchdown that put the Irish ahead by 40-29 with 10:34 remaining. A successful kick would have given Notre Dame a 12-point lead and required Northwestern to score two touchdowns, but the lapse in judgment opened the door for a comeback that seemed inevitable to those who spent over four hours watching this debacle. In his postgame comments, Kelly stated “…one or two was a coin flip so we went for two.” Unbelievable.

As the fourth quarter ticked down, an 11-point lead still seemed safe when Mitchell had a field goal attempt blocked by Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey. Kelly eschewed the running game on the next possession and could not secure a first down, whereupon the Wildcats regained possession after a 17-yard punt by Brindza. When quarterback Trevor Siemian led his team downfield and scored on a keeper with 4:10 remaining, everyone knew the visitors needed to go for two. Northwestern was bailed out when a horribly failed pass was negated by pass interference against the Irish, and they converted their second chance by running the ball in to cut the lead to 40-37.

Despite having its lead cut to 40-37, Notre Dame appeared poised to run out the clock. A questionable pass interference call against the Wildcats on a third and nine gave the Irish a fresh set of down at the Northwestern 33 with under two minutes left. A two yard run was followed by the final timeout called by the visitors with 1:36 on the clock, but Kelly continued to press the issue rather than take a knee and use the clock. The strategy once again backfired on the next play when Cam McDaniel was stripped of the football and Northwestern recovered at its 28. Siemian, who has been criticized for abysmal play in recent weeks, took advantage of the lifeline and proceeded to pass his team down the field before the drive stalled at the Notre Dame 28 with 25 seconds on the clock. Mitchell’s heroics sent the game into overtime, but bad karma was palpable after Kelly’s inexplicable decision to grab a 12-point advantage.

The loss overshadowed a three touchdown performance by wide receiver Will Fuller, another 100 yard rushing performance by Tarean Folston, a scoop and score fumble return by safety Austin Collinsworth and interceptions by Farley and Cole Luke. Golson was not at his best, however, and appeared to suffer a shoulder injury early in the second half. Although he stayed in the game and made a few strong throws, he was obviously not at his best. The defense did its part with horrific tackling and blown coverages by the safeties that would have been even more costly had the Wildcat receivers made eminently easy catches.

Let’s review the answers to the pregame questions for more pain and suffering.

Which team will start strong and set the tone early in the contest? Both teams scored on their initial possessions, while the Irish could not fully take control despite holding the lead for most of the contest.

Will the Irish defensive line be able to dominate the beleaguered Wildcat front? The Wildcats were able to gash Notre Dame on two long running plays and negate the Irish pass rush by throwing the ball quickly into the short zones. Matters got progressively worse for the Irish when Daniel Cage and Sheldon Day limped off the field and did not return.

Can Golson get through the afternoon without giving up the football? No. The Irish turnover machine threw a pinball interception in Northwestern territory that was returned 66 yards to set up a touchdown, and fumbled the ball away inside the Wildcat ten yard line.

Will Notre Dame’s secondary be able to stop Northwestern’s weak passing attack? The Irish safeties made Siemian look like a Heisman candidate.

Which team will get its running game going? Both teams ran the ball well, but the Irish did not run it enough. Northwestern did not have a rush for more than 27 yards all season, but gashed Notre Dame for runs of 45 and 44 yards in the first half alone.

Will Fitzgerald’s gambles succeed or backfire? The Wildcats were only one of three on fourth down tries, but Fitzgerald’s biggest gamble paid off when he showed unwavering faith in Mitchell.

Can either team generate difference-making plays on special teams? Whoever asked this brilliant question is obviously clairvoyant…..and insightful…. and uncommonly handsome.

Things do not get easier for the Irish, who must now try to stop this death spiral against the likes of Louisville and USC with an increasingly depleted defense. The team will await news on Day and Cage, but Day’s leg injury in particular looked like a season-ender. Such a significant loss will put even more burden on the other two phases of the game, but right now Golson and Brindza do not inspire much confidence.