Notre Dame Snaps Michigan State's Home-Game Win Streak EAST LANSING, Mich. - Two years ago here, a smirking Mark Dantonio shook Brian Kelly's hand. In Kelly's third game as Notre Dame's coach, Dantonio had called a fake field goal in overtime to win, beginning a two-year run that redefined Michigan State as calm, cool and clutch. After that, the Spartans won 10 of their next 11 games decided by 10 points or fewer, while Kelly's Fighting Irish went 8-5 in each of his first two seasons as Notre Dame faltered in its seemingly endless quest to regain a place atop the college football mountain. That game two years ago was a thrilling, program-changing night for Michigan State that was also remembered for Dantonio's having a perspective-changing heart attack. From then on, he implored his team to stay fresh, physically and mentally. "The game's going to be here," Dantonio said last week while preparing his 10th-ranked Spartans to play No. And yeah it's important; I'm not naïve, we got to win. It's important - I understand all that. But at the same time, it is a game. There are more important things in life. Michigan State was considered the Big Ten's best team at kickoff Saturday, as the conference as a whole has gone through a down cycle. But Notre Dame stuffed the Spartans" star, Le'Veon Bell, stymied their new quarterback Andrew Maxwell and made its own statement in a 20-3 win. This is the first 3-0 start for the Irish since 2002, and their first victory on the road against a top 10 team since 1983. "It's a signature win," Kelly said, adding, "It's definitely going to build the confidence in that locker room." Last week, Notre Dame announced it was moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports except football and hockey, and the football team will schedule five A.C.C. teams a season. The Irish have danced for a long time with the Big Ten - never joining, but developing rivalries with programs like Michigan State's. That connection is expected to suffer with the university's move. But Notre Dame could extend its reach, especially with this team, which features a stout defense and a blossoming quarterback fit for Kelly's spread offense. In his third career start, Everett Golson withstood Michigan State's defense, and kept passing and running. Many of his passes were not perfect, but his receivers adjusted, twisting in midair to help him. Frequently using his legs to buy time, he completed 14 of his 32 passes for 178 yards, a touchdown and, perhaps most important, no interceptions. "When you know you play really good defense, offensively you don't have to rush a freshman quarterback," Kelly said of Golson, who is a sophomore. We can be patient with him, and that patience is going to pay off because you saw what he's capable of. He's a very exciting player. Golson also exuded a cool that the Spartans lacked, his two first-half touchdowns best illustrating his creativity. Showing off his arm, he rolled right, evaded a defensive end and launched a diagonal, high-arcing pass that traveled about 45 yards in the air, to the end zone's left side. There, John Goodman sealed a smaller defender and caught it. Later, Golson surveyed a goal-line pass play, then took off left. There he beat William Gholston, the Spartans" monstrous defensive end, to the edge and waltzed into the end zone. By then, Notre Dame had a 14-0 lead, and Michigan State's 15-game home winning streak was in jeopardy. Bell, the Spartans" lead back, gained yards, but not consistently. Maxwell, also in his third career start, had openings, but not clean ones, completing 23 of 45 passes for 187 yards. At the end, Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood, in his first game back from a two-game suspension, combining for 71 fourth-quarter yards, capped the game late for the Irish. Kelly's offense - which ranked 61st in 2010 and improved to 35th last season - could reach new heights if Golson continues to improve, and if Wood and Riddick offer relief. Michigan State (2-1) crossed midfield on only three drives. The kicker Dan Conroy missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt, but made a 50-yarder. Two years ago, it was Conroy who lined up for the fake kick against Notre Dame. Facing a 46-yard field goal to tie and force a second overtime, Dantonio had calculated the risk of calling a fake. Then, it had been Conroy's first pressure situation. Saving Conroy the scrutiny, "I figured that I would take the pressure," said Dantonio, who had a heart attack later that night. Now Dantonio is likely to shoulder pressure again, with a winnable Big Ten schedule looming. Replacing the longtime starter Kirk Cousins has not been easy for Maxwell, who was rarely afforded time to orchestrate something deep downfield. Bell's ineffectiveness - after he ran for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns in his first two games - did not help. For one night, beating perhaps the Big Ten's best team, Notre Dame pointed out that it was, once again, relevant.