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Oklahoma preview sept. 25, 2013 Boomer Blake ✦ Game Facts Quarterback Blake Bell gives the Sooners offense a lot of options By Dan Murphy B ob Stoops has had two Heisman-winning quarterbacks since taking over as Oklahoma's head coach in 1999. When the second of that duo, Sam Bradford, left three games into his junior year for season-ending shoulder surgery, Landry Jones replaced him. Jones would go on to throw for the second-most yards in NCAA history during his college career. Still, Stoops has never quite had a starting quarterback like Blake Bell. The 6-6, 252-pound Bell ran for a teamhigh 11 touchdowns a year ago as the team's goal-line sledgehammer. His ability to run provides a new wrinkle to the Sooners offense that never existed with Jones and Bradford in the backfield. Oklahoma took its first crack at the zone read to start the 2013 campaign with redshirt freshman Trevor Knight taking the snaps. Knight rushed for 145 yards on 20 carries in the first two games, but a knee injury sidelined him for the Sooners' 51‑20 win over Tulsa Sept. 14 and gave Bell a chance to take over the offense. Bell dispelled any concerns about his ability to throw the ball accurately with four touchdown passes and 413 yards through the air. Bell's performance jump-started an of- Bell seized the Sooners' starting quarterback job by completing 27 of 37 passes for 413 yards with four touchdowns — all career highs — against Tulsa Sept. 14. Date: Sept. 28, 2013. Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,795). Kickoff: 3:42 p.m. ET. Television: NBC. Radio: This broadcast can be heard on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129). Series Facts: This is the 11th meeting between Notre Dame and Oklahoma. The Irish hold a 9-1 advantage over the Sooners. Coaches: Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (31‑12, fourth season). Oklahoma — Bob Stoops (152‑37, 15th season). Noting Oklahoma: The second road game and first loss of Stoops' head coaching career came in South Bend with a 34-30 Irish win in 1999, and Saturday will be his first time coaching at Notre Dame since then … Notre Dame's win a year ago in Norman, Okla., marked the second time in 2012 that the Irish beat a top-10 team by more than two scores (No. 8 Michigan State 20-3); prior to 2012, they had not accomplished that feat since a 38-10 win over No. 5 USC in 1995 … Notre Dame ended Oklahoma's legendary 47-game winning streak by beating the Sooners 7-0 in 1957. photo courtesy oklahoma fense that had been slightly stagnant under Knight. "So much for your controversy right now," Stoops said after the game while naming Bell his starter moving forward. "It didn't last long. You can't deny what he just went out and did. I'm proud of him and excited for him. "It also speaks to his character. Here's a guy that was ready for it — never got down, never changed his attitude. He got his chance and he took great advantage of it." The combination of Bell's size and his proven accuracy give the Sooners what they need to take a step forward in running the option while not ignoring the bevy of talent they have at the wide receiver position. Along with his four touchdown passes, the junior also ran the zone read play 11 times. In total, he carried 10 times for 24 yards. A year ago, Jones and Oklahoma finished fifth nationally in passing offense