The Notre Dame Stadium scoreboard, framed by goalposts, tells the story late in Saturday’s game. (Photo by Bill Dwyer/For Chronicle Media)

Northern Illinois University had a week off to bask in their stunning 16-14 victory over Notre Dame and a ranking as No. 23 in the nation in an Associated Press poll announced Sunday.

The Huskies (2-0) earned 151 points to land the spot after hitting the top 25 after topping the Irish, their first national ranking since 2013. Notre Dame (2-1) dropped from No. 5 to No. 18, but moved up a spot this week after trouncing Purdue.

Next up for NIU is its Saturday Mid-American Conference opener against Buffalo (1-1) at Huskie Stadium. The Bulls fell 38-0 on Sept. 7 at Missouri, but beat UMass, 34-3.

Notre Dame, meanwhile, traveled to Purdue on Saturday, beating the Boilermakers, 66-7, and will play host to another MAC opponent — Miami of Ohio — on Saturday.

The Notre Dame game was NIU’s biggest “Boneyard” victory to date and first over an opponent ranked in the nation’s top five.   

Boneyard wins are victories over power conference, ranked teams and notable independents. NIU’s last such win was in 2023 over Boston College in the season opener. In 2003, the Huskies beat No. 21 Alabama on the road and edged then-No. 20 Toledo — a Mid-American Conference rival — 30-27 in 2015. 

The Huskies have three Boneyard wins under head coach Thomas Hammock since 2021.