College football around the country

Michigan State 34, Notre Dame 31 (OT): The Spartans gambled on one play to beat the Fighting Irish – and it paid off.

Aaron Bates threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Gantt on an audacious fake field goal in overtime, giving the Spartans a 34-31 victory over the Irish on Saturday night in East Lansing, Mich.

With Dan Conroy lining up for a 46-yard attempt to tie the game in the first overtime, Bates took the snap, stood up and had time to wait for Gantt to come open downfield. Gantt caught the pass for an easy score, giving the Spartans (3-0) a measure of revenge for a heartbreaking 33-30 loss in South Bend last season.

David Ruffer gave the Irish (1-2) the lead with a 33-yard field goal on Notre Dame’s OT possession.

Dayne Crist threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns for the Irish, who got their offense rolling in the second half in their first road game under coach Brian Kelly. But it was the Michigan State coaching staff that will be remembered after this game, for passing up a chance at a second overtime and going for the win in stunning fashion.

Virginia Tech 49, East Carolina 27: David Wilson ran for two touchdowns and Darren Evans added a rushing score to lead the Hokies (1-2) over the Pirates (2-1) in Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia Tech rallied from a 10-0 deficit, scoring 28 unanswered points in the second half.

The Hokies won their first game of the season despite losing standout tailback Ryan Williams, a sopho- more who broke Tech’s single-season rushing record last season (1,655 yards). Williams injured his right hamstring in the first half and did not return.

Georgia Tech 30, North Carolina 24: Joshua Nesbitt ran for a touchdown and threw for another to help the Yellow Jackets (2-1, 1-0 ACC) beat the Tar Heels (0-2, 0-1) in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Johnny White ran for a career-high 113 yards and a touchdown for N.C.