Jimmy Clausen threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Golden Tate moments after host Notre Dame forced San Diego State to fumble in the end zone and the Fighting Irish rallied for a 21-13 victory on Saturday.
San Diego State (0-2), a 21-point underdog which lost to an FCS team last week, appeared to be on the verge of an upset early in the fourth quarter.
Brandon Sullivan was inches away from a 4-yard touchdown run and a two-score lead for the Aztecs. But safety David Bruton jarred the ball loose and recovered it in the end zone to help the Irish (1-0) avoid an embarrassing loss.
Clausen was 5-of-5 passing for 76 yards on the ensuing drive to rally the Irish to victory, as they avoided losing back-to-back season-openers at home for the first time since 1887-88, its first two seasons of playing football. Clausen added a game-clinching 6-yard TD pass to David Grimes with 2:08 left.
Clausen, who also had a 22-yard TD pass to freshman Michael Floyd late in the first half, was 21-of-34 passing for 237 yards with two interceptions.
Ryan Lindley carried San Diego State's offense, completing 29-of-59 passes for 274 yards with one interception and scoring a touchdown on a 1-yard keeper.
Colorado St. 23, Sacramento St. 20: Mike Pagnotta recovered a late fumble and freshman kicker Ben DeLine hit a 20-yard field goal with no time remaining, lifting the host Rams (1-1) to a win over the Hornets (1-1). Sacramento State lost for the ninth straight time against a Bowl Subdivision team, a streak spanning 17 years.
Cent. Arkansas 24, UC Davis 21: Quarterback Nathan Brown threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Bears (2-0) to a victory over the visiting Aggies (0-2). Brown connected with Brent Grimes in the second quarter and Darrius McNeal in the third to take a 14-0 lead.
Montana 30, Cal Poly 28: Senior quarterback Cole Bergquist threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Grizzlies rallied from a 21-14 halftime deficit to beat the host Mustangs in a nonconference game.
