SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Down 20-6 in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame was going to need some big plays and a little luck to stay undefeated and keep its national title hopes alive.

It got just enough of both.

Everett Golson scored on a quarterback sneak in the third overtime and the Fighting Irish (No. 3 BCS, No. 4 AP) came back from a 14-point deficit Saturday to beat Pittsburgh 29-26.

"We overcame a lot tonight. We overcame some uncharacteristic mistakes," coach Brian Kelly said. "Last year that would have been a loss. But our team kept fighting, kept playing."

Notre Dame (9-0) is off to its best start since 1993, when it finished the season ranked No. 2. Pitt (4-5) missed a potential game-winning field goal in overtime.

Kelly pulled Golson late in the second quarter because he was missing reads and progressions. But the coach put Golson back in after backup Tommy Rees threw an interception and the Irish fell behind by two touchdowns.

"Our quarterback needed to be out there mobile, make some plays outside the pocket -- asked him if he was ready to go, he said he was and we put him back in," Kelly said.

Golson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter as Notre Dame cut Pitt's lead to 20-12. Notre Dame's chances for a comeback appeared to end when Pitt cornerback K'Waun Williams intercepted a pass by Golson in the end zone.

But the Irish defense held, and Golson completed a 45-yard pass to DaVaris Daniels at the Pitt 5. Golson then threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Theo Riddick and ran in for the two-point conversion to tie the game.

Kelly gave the game ball to Golson.

"I think I did a great job of leading the team coming down the stretch. Coming out today, we came out a little flat. As far as me personally, I missed a couple reads I should have had. Instead of putting three points on the board, you put six," Golson said. "But I feel like in the stretch we really came together."