Stormin in Norman
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Five Best Sooner Football Season-Openers Over Last 70 Seasons

By Chip Rouse

Sep 5, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after a touchdown against the Akron Zips during the third quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after a touchdown against the Akron Zips during the third quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 24, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners take the field prior to action against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners take the field prior to action against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Sept 21, 1968 – Notre Dame 45, Oklahoma 21

This season-opening matchup between these two college football goliaths was the eighth meeting all-time, and the Sooners had prevailed in just one of the seven previous games. Both teams were ranked in the top five to start the season: Notre Dame at No. 3 and Oklahoma in the No. 5 spot in the AP rankings.

According to an account of the game in the Oklahoma City Oklahoman newspaper, OU took an early 14-7 lead, but a touchdown pass by Notre Dame quarterback Terry Hanratty just before halftime gave the Fighting Irish a 21-14 advantage at the intermission.

Notre Dame outscored the Sooners 24-7 in the second half, rolling up much of its 571 yards of total offense in the game in the final 30 minutes. The Irish pounded the ground against the Oklahoma defense, rushing for 357 yards.

After the game, OU head coach Chuck Fairbanks was quoted as saying:

"“There were no psychological ups and downs for us…We got beat because Notre Dame has a much better football team than we have.”"

Next: Sept. 6, 1986 - Oklahoma 38, UCLA 3

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