EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The play was called "Little Giants" -- and Michigan State used it to steal a victory from Notre Dame in the most audacious way imaginable.

With Dan Conroy lining up for a 46-yard field goal to tie the game in overtime and the play clock running low, holder Aaron Bates took the snap, stood up and waited for Charlie Gantt to come open downfield. The stunning fake worked to perfection, and Gantt's 29-yard touchdown catch gave the Spartans a 34-31 win Saturday night.

"We knew Notre Dame wasn't going to be expecting that," said Bates, who is also Michigan State's punter. "That's the last thing anybody was expecting."

The win gave Michigan State (3-0) a measure of revenge for a heartbreaking 33-30 loss at Notre Dame last season and spoiled Brian Kelly's first road game as Irish coach. Although Kelly's offense looked sharp in the second half, it was Spartans coach Mark Dantonio who stole the show at the end after David Ruffer had given Notre Dame (1-2) the lead with a 33-yard field goal earlier in overtime.

Conroy was facing a significantly longer kick, and Dantonio didn't want to put him under that kind of pressure.

"We always name our trick plays after movies. We keep it fun. ... We actually put it in on Wednesday. It worked every time," Dantonio said. "I made the call, 'Little Giants,' and I said a little prayer."

The play was actually intended to go to Le'Veon Bell, who was covered.

"All throughout the week in practice, I never got the ball once," Gantt said.

And Michigan State barely got the play off in time to avoid being hit with a delay of game flag.

Dayne Crist threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns for the Irish, who must now recover from yet another gut-wrenching defeat. Notre Dame is 1-6 dating to the start of last November, with every one of the losses coming by a touchdown or less.

The Irish lost to Michigan in the last minute last weekend.