Notre Dame Football: Top 10 Wins Of The Brian Kelly Era
By Chase Eyrich
No. 5: Michigan State, 2012
It was the victory that confirmed that Notre Dame was not only on the right track, they were doing something special. A marquee victory in the third week of the season over No. 10 Michigan State was what Notre Dame needed.
A 3-0 start was Notre Dame’s best in ten years. Tyrone Willingham won his first eight games as Notre Dame’s coach in 2002. This was Brian Kelly’s third season with the Irish.
It was the moment when Notre Dame felt like a contender. It’s hard to say that this win didn’t give the locker room all the confidence they needed that season. Not only did they dismantle the No. 10 team in the country as underdogs, but Michigan State had a 15 game home winning streak that ended that night.
Everett Golson made big plays early, which set up the Irish from the get-go. The first year starter was up for the challenge.
Starting off the first quarter with a 36-yard bomb to John Goodman, Golson paired it with a rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
If it weren’t for Dan Conroy’s 50-yard field goal late in the second quarter, Michigan State would have never made it to the scoreboard. It was the worst offensive performance since the Spartans lost 20-3 to Central Michigan in 1991.
Notre Dame’s front seven gave a glimpse of just how dominant they would be that season. The Spartans hadn’t given up a sack in the first two games of the season. Notre Dame would come away with four sacks that night.
Manti Te’o was the star of the night, just as he would be all season. His 12 total tackles, two pass deflections and fumble recovery would pad his stat line as Notre Dame pushed pass the Spartans. Irish win, 20-3.