Coaches always want to start fast. Bob Stoops must have loved what his Oklahoma defense did on Saturday at Notre Dame.
The Sooners returned an interception for a touchdown in the opening minute of the game and then picked off a pass on the next possession to propel Oklahoma to a 35-21 win.
Corey Nelson returned the initial interception 24 yards for a score then the Sooners found the end zone just two minutes later when Damien Williams scored from 11 yards out, leaving the Irish in a 14-0 hole with 12:!5 left in the first quarter.
Blake Bell hit Lacoltan Bester for a 26 yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the first half to give the Sooners a 21-7 lead going into intermission.
Notre Dame rallied to within 27-21 in the fourth quarter after Tommy Rees hit Troy Niklas for a 30 yard touchdown pass with 14:10 left in the game.
Oklahoma quickly answered as Bell connected with Sterling Shepard for a 54 yard touchdown pass to set the final margin. Bell finished with 232 yards passing and two scores while completing 22-of-30 attempts. Oklahoma added 212 yards on the ground, with Bell accounting for 59 yards on 12 attempts.
