Notre Dame reversed its recent trend of struggling to start games, but the Irish could not sustain their early momentum and lost their third straight game, 33-30 to Connecticut in double overtime.
Jimmy Clausen marched the offense down the field on its first drive, finding Golden Tate for an 8-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.
On the second play of the second quarter, Clausen plunged in from one yard out to put Notre Dame up 14-0.
A 43-yard Jordan Todman touchdown run and a Dave Teggart field goal brought Connecticut to within 14-10.
On their first drive of the second half, the Irish moved deep into Huskies territory but settled for a David Ruffer field goal — which Todman immediately answered with a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown to tie the game at 17-17.
After trading fourth-quarter field goals, the teams headed into overtime, as both Connecticut and Notre Dame scored on touchdown passes on their first drive.
But after the Huskies forced the Irish to settle for a field goal in the second overtime, Andre Dixon ended the game with a 4-yard touchdown scamper to give Connecticut the 33-30 win.
