SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame's offense got into the end zone — twice, in fact. It wasn't nearly enough to end the misery for the Fighting Irish.

For the first time in 119 seasons of Notre Dame football, the Irish are 0-4.

Michigan State, which blew a big lead to Notre Dame a year ago in a loss that sent its season in a tailspin, got a measure of revenge against the floundering Fighting Irish with a 31-14 victory yesterday.

Now it's Notre Dame's season that's spinning out of control. The Irish have lost six in a row, the second longest losing streak in school history, and allowed at least 30 points in each game.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said he wasn't focusing on the worst start ever.

"Records to me is not the critical factor," he said. "I'll critically evaluate this game and get ready for Purdue."

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, who became the first Spartans coach to win his first four games, called the victory a statement. He said the painful 40-37 loss last year in East Lansing had taken a toll on the players and the program.

"Our guys have been mocked, and our guys have been made fun of, and we lost coaches; there was a coaching change, and a lot of things happened," he said. "So we internalized this and turned it to our favor today."

Brian Hoyer threw four touchdown passes — two to Kellen Davis and one each to Devin Thomas and Mark Dell — and Javon Ringer rushed for 144 yards on 26 carries and Jehuu Caulcrick ran for 83 yards on 20 carries to pace the Spartans.

ATLANTIC COAST

Wake Forest 31, Maryland 24: Josh Adams scored on a 6-yard run on the first possession of overtime as the host Demon Deacons (2-2, 1-1 ACC) capped a stunning 21-point comeback in regulation and beat the Terrapins (2-2, 0-1) at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Virginia 28, Georgia Tech 23: Jameel Sewell threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Staton Jobe one play after the host Cavaliers (3-1, 3-0) recovered a muffed punt in the fourth quarter to beat the Yellow Jackets (2-2, 0-2) at Charlottesville, Va.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE

Oklahoma State 49, Texas Tech 45: Graham Harrell threw for 646 yards for the visiting Red Riders (3-1, 0-1), the fourth-best total in major-college history, but Brandon Pettigrew caught a 55-yard touchdown pass with 1:37 remaining to give the Cowboys (2-2, 1-0) the victory at Stillwater, Okla.

Kansas 55, Florida International 3: Todd Reesing threw for 368 yards and Aqib Talib set a team record with a 100-yard interception return, as the Jayhawks (4-0) handed the Golden Panthers (0-4) their 16th loss in a row with a victory at Lawrence, Kan.

Colorado 42, Miami (Ohio) 0: Cody Hawkins threw two touchdown passes and ran for another and the host Buffaloes (2-2) racked up 634 yards of total offense to beat the Redhawks (0-3) at Boulder, Colo., and end a two-game skid.

BIG EAST CONFERENCE

Connecticut 34, Pittsburgh 14: The Huskies (4-0, 1-0 Big East) turned three turnovers into 17 points and Tyler Lorenzen directed two first-half touchdown drives to beat the host Panthers (2-2, 0-1) for the second straight season.

Cincinnati 40, Marshall 14: Mike Mickens' interception and fumble recovery set up two first-half touchdowns, and the host Bearcats, under first-year coach Brian Kelly, rolled past the Thundering Herd (0-4) for their first 4-0 start since 1954.

BIG TEN CONFERENCE

Illinois 27, Indiana 14: Rashard Mendenhall ran for a career-high 214 yards and one touchdown, scored on a 15-yard reception and the Illini (3-1, 1-1) forced four turnovers and blocked a punt to beat the Hoosiers (3-1, 1-1) at Bloomington, Ind.

Purdue 45, Minnesota 31: Curtis Painter was 17 for 21 for 199 yards in the second half and finished with 338 yards passing and three touchdowns, leading the Boilermakers (4-0) over the Golden Gophers (1-3) in the big Ten opener for both at Minneapolis.

CONFERENCE USA

Houston 38, Colorado State 27: Quarterback Case Keenum ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns as the Cougars (2-1) rallied from a 24-10 third-quarter deficit to hand the Rams (0-3) their 10th straight loss.

Central Florida 56, Memphis 20: Kevin Smith ran 22 times for 124 yards and three touchdowns, then took most of the second half off as the Knights (2-1) rolled past the Tigers (1-2) in the conference opener for both at Orlando, Fla.

UTEP 52, Texas Southern 12: Marcus Thomas rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns and the host Miners (2-2) scored on their first five possessions and led 38-0 at halftime in routing the Tigers (0-4) at El Paso, Texas.

INDEPENDENTS

Navy 46, Duke 43: Jarod Bryan, replacing winded starter Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (a Kapolei alum) at quarterback, drove the Midshipmen (2-2) to 14 consecutive fourth-quarter points and Joey Bullen kicked a 44-yard field goal on the last play of the game to beat the Blue Devils (1-3) at Annapolis.

MID-AMERICAN

Wyoming 34, Ohio 33: Devin Moore rushed for 198 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Karsten Sween passed for two more scores as the visiting Cowboys (3-1) rallied from a 23-6 third-quarter deficit to beat the Bobcats (2-2) at Athens, Ohio.

Toledo 36, Iowa State 35: Linebacker Greg Hay recovered a botched punt in the end zone late in the fourth quarter for a touchdown as the Rockets (1-3) rallied from a 35-24 deficit to beat the Cyclones (1-3) at Toledo, Ohio.

MOUNTAIN WEST

BYU 31, Air Force 6: Max Hall passed for 293 yards and two touchdowns and the host Cougars (2-2, 1-0) handed the Falcons (3-1, 2-1) their first loss under new coach Troy Calhoun at Provo, Utah.

SAN DIEGO STATE 52, PORTLAND STATE 17: Kevin O'Connell completed 19 of 31 passes for career highs of 443 yards and five touchdowns, leading the host Aztecs (1-2) past the Vikings (1-2).

New Mexico 58, Sacramento State 0: Rodney Ferguson ran for 129 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, and Donovan Porterie threw for 229 yards and a score to lead the host Lobos (3-1) past the Hornets (0-3) at Albuquerque, N.M.

TCU 21, SMU 7: Bart Johnson returned a blocked punt 17 yards for a 7-7 tie in the first quarter and Robert Henson scored on a 43-yard interception return in the second quarter to lead the host Horned Frogs (2-2) past the Mustangs (1-3) at Fort Worth, Texas.

PACIFIC-10 CONFERENCE

Arizona State 44, Oregon State 32: Rudy Carpenter threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns and the Sun Devils (4-0) rallied from a 19-0 first-quarter hole to beat the Beavers (2-2) at Tempe, Ariz., in the Pac-10 opener for both.

SOUTHEASTERN

Tennessee 48, Arkansas State 27: Erik Ainge threw for four touchdowns and a career-high 334 yards to help the host Volunteers (2-2) defeat the Indians (1-2) at Knoxville, Tenn.

Mississippi State 31, Gardner-Webb 15: Anthony Dixon scored two touchdowns to lead the host Bulldogs over the Runnin' Bulldogs (1-2) at Starkville, Miss., for their first 3-1 start to a season since 2000.

ELSEWHERE

Wofford 42, Appalachian State 31: Jeremy Marshall scored on a reverse and a halfback pass as the visiting Terriers (3-1) ended the Mountaineers' (3-1) 17-game winning streak in the Southern Conference opener for both at Spartanburg, S.C.