Jimmy Clausen is Better Than You Think: Notre Dame 33-Michigan State 30

After Michigan State took the lead on the strength of a touchdown that was set up by 57-yard pass from Kirk Cousins to Mark Dell (and capped with a TD pass to Blair White) the lead has changed hands yet again, for the fourth time on the day. Notre Dame has retaken the lead with a 6-minute touchdown drive punctuated with a perfect, perfect 27-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Clausen to Golden Tate. And you know, despite his historic levels of smarminess (I’m contractually prohibited from using the word “douchebag”), Clausen has had some pretty astounding throws this afternoon, and looks to be coming into his own quite nicely.

And for what it’s worth, Golden Tate capped that last touchdown with a superb leap into the Michigan State band, which was like the Lambeau Leap, except with a lot of disgruntled band members.