Michigan State has one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.

QB Drew Stanton is a talented passer who riddled the Notre Dame secondary for 327 yards and three TD passes and ran for another score.

WR Matt Trannon was his primary partner, catching five passes for 136 yards including a 65-yard TD reception in the third quarter that gave the Spartans a 38-17 lead.

RB Jason Teague bounced back from his one-game suspension to score the game-winning TD in overtime. He ran with speed, passion and tenacity.

And then there was the Spartans defense. Michigan State appeared to have the game well in hand after Trannon's third-quarter score, but that's when Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn got hot. He led a remarkable comeback that allowed the Irish to tie the score at 38 and force overtime.

Quinn threw for five touchdowns, including a four-yard pass to Jeff Samardzija with 2:31 remaining that sent the game into overtime. While the secondary got carved up, the defense forced the Irish to settle for a field goal in overtime and that gave the Spartans a chance to win the game on their first possession of the session. They did just that with Teague's run.

LB SirDarean Adams also made a huge play when he intercepted Quinn's pass in the flat early in the third quarter and returned it 30 yards for a score. It was the first interception of Adams' career and it turned the momentum fully in the Spartans' favor.

While they gave all of their lead back, Michigan State had enough left in the tank to win in overtime -- and that has gotten the attention of the nation.

KEEP AN EYE ON: RB Jason Teague -- He had been suspended by head coach John L. Smith, but he bounced back in a big way. Teague took an option pitch from QB Drew Stanton in overtime and raced 19 yards into the Irish end zone for the game-winning TD.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's the greatest win of my college career. They're the No. 10 team in the nation and no one is giving us a shot. They come in riding their high horse after beating Michigan (a week ago), and we showed the nation that we could play, too." -- DE Clifton Ryan on the 44-41 overtime win at Notre Dame.

-- QB Drew Stanton -- The leader of this high-octane offense. He is a great athlete who can make big plays with his arm or his feet. He completed 16-of-27 passes for 327 yards and three TDs and also added another score on the ground.

-- OLB SirDarean Williams -- He intercepted Brady Quinn's third-quarter pass in the flat and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Williams' showed his athleticism by turning around, reaching for the ball and racing into the end zone.

-- Defensive lineman Domata Peko had a career-high seven tackles and forced a fumble on a Notre Dame goal-line stand in the third quarter.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK: How about the pass defense? Michigan State gave up 487 passing yards and could not hold on to a 21-point second half lead. Also, head coach John L. Smith got conservative after the Spartans took their lead and that gave Notre Dame a chance to register the comeback.

--The defense grew tired as the game unfolded and missed tackles were the result. Smith has to drill his unit on wrapping up receivers and ball carriers if the Spartans are going to live up to their promising start.

-- CB Jaren Hayes plays with great effort, but he was victimized by Notre Dame receivers Maurice Stovall and Jeff Samardzija who were able to jump over him and make big catches.

ROSTER REPORT: RB Jason Teague returned to the lineup after his one-game suspension and ran for 72 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime.