Oklahoma Football: 30 Best Games in School History

Sep 13, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners sooner schooner during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 28, 2013 – Oklahoma 35, Notre Dame 21

In 10 previous games in the all-time series with Notre Dame, Oklahoma had come away with a win just once. That one win came at Notre Dame in 1956 in the midst of the Sooners’ historic 47-game win streak. That win over the Fighting Irish came in decisive fashion, by a score of 40-0.

The Sooners came to South Bend, Ind., on this fall afternoon in 2013 seeking redemption from a 30-13 loss to Notre Dame the season before, when both teams entered the game ranked in the top ten. Both teams were ranked this season, as well, although not as high on the food chain as the last time they met.

The game was barely three minutes old, and Oklahoma was already up by two scores at 14-0.

OU capitalized on two Notre Dame turnovers in the Fighting Irish’s first two possessions. Corey Nelson was in the right place at the right time, snaring a ball that was popped in the air when Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees was hit from behind on the Irish’s third snap of the game. Nelson ran it back for a pick-six one minute into the game for a quick 7-0 Sooner lead.

On the very next Notre Dame possession, Frank Shannon stepped in front of a Rees pass, and the Sooner were set up again with excellent field possession at the Irish 31-yard line. Four plays later, Oklahoma scored on an 11-yard touchdown run by Damien Williams.

Notre Dame cut the Sooner lead to seven points midway through the first  quarter, but Oklahoma pushed the lead back up to 14 points with an 88-yard drive right before the half that took five minutes off the clock and gave the Sooners a 21-7 advantage at the intermission.

The second half played out much more evenly with each team tallying 14 points. That meant the Sooners’ 14-point halftime edge held up, and OU registered just its second victory in the 11-game series, both coming on the road at Notre Dame.

The Oklahoma run game was much more effective in this game than it was the year earlier. The Sooners totaled 212 yards on the ground, compared with just 15 in the 2013 games. Blake Bell enjoyed one of his better games at quarterback, completing 22 of 30 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns.

Next: Dec. 7, 2013 - Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 24