Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson looks to pass between Michigan State's Marcus Rush (44) and Anthony Rashad White (98) during the first quarter Saturday. (AP)

In Everett Golson’s first road game as a starter, the Notre Dame redshirt freshman quarterback needed to send a message to Michigan State and its raucous fans in Saturday night’s top-20 showdown.

On a second-and-9 early in the first quarter, Golson rolled to his right, avoided the rush and fired a dart across his body. Sensing that his quarterback would be able to buy time with his legs, John Goodman broke off his route and headed into the left corner of the end zone. The Irish senior wide receiver reached up and came down with a one-handed catch despite being interfered with by a Spartans’ defensive back. Although Golson was credited with a 36-yard touchdown, the ball traveled closer to 60 in the air.

Golson demonstrated his arm strength early in the Irish's 20-3 win over Michigan State. Although Golson was contained for most of the second half, he still did enough to give Notre Dame its first victory over a top-10 team since September 2005. The Irish previously had lost four straight to opponents in the top 10.

Golson finished 14 of 32 for 178 yards and a touchdown. Notre Dame opened a season 3-0 for the first time since 2002.

“I’m so proud of the young man,” Kelly told ESPN. “He went out on the road as a freshman and made some pretty good plays.”

Golson was accurate with several throws across his body early in the victory. On the opening drive, Golson connected with WR TJ Jones for 21 yards on a back-shoulder fade. The two hooked up on another back-shoulder fade for a 14-yard completion in the second quarter.

Critical yardage for Wood: In Cierre Wood’s first game of the season, the senior running back had several crucial runs in the fourth quarter to keep the chains moving.

With the Irish leading 14-3 early in the fourth quarter, Michigan State pinned Notre Dame on its 4-yard line on a 56-yard punt by Mike Sadler. Wood responded with a 9-yard run to the outside to get the Irish out of danger. Wood then followed it with a 26-yard cut-back for a first down. Facing a 4th-and-1 four plays later, Wood rushed 8 yards to the right for a first down.

The Irish chewed more than six minutes off the clock on the 11-play, 84-yard drive. The drive concluded with a 29-yard field goal by Kyle Brindza. Wood finished with 10 carries for 56 yards. Wood, Notre Dame’s leading rusher from last season, missed the first two games for violating team rules.

Emotional win for Te’o: Senior LB Manti Te'o clinched the win with an interception with 4:19 left. Michigan State RB Le’Veon Bell was stopped short on a fourth-and-5 reception along the right sideline and threw the ball into the air in desperation. Te’o pointed into the air before being mobbed by several teammates.

Te’o made the gesture to honor his late girlfriend and maternal grandmother after both died this week. Te’o’s girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, died after a long battle with leukemia.

The senior linebacker added 12 tackles.

“I couldn’t do it without the support of my family and my girlfriend’s family,” Te’o told ESPN. “I’ll miss them.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on Notre Dame football, follow bloggers Evan Hilbert and Matt Rybaltowski @CBSBigEast.