These schools say ‘no’ to cupcakes

This week’s picks column is dedicated to the Notre Dame and Oklahoma football programs. In an era of when scheduling cupcake nonconference opponents is something of a sneaky method of coaching job security, the Irish and Sooners sought one another out.

Surprisingly, this megawatt rivalry — if it can even be called that — is one-sided, with Notre Dame having won eight of the nine games. Since 1957, the year the Irish had the audacity to snap Oklahoma’s 47-game win streak with a 7-0 victory, the Leprechauns have outscored the Sooners 158-64.

Oklahoma returns the favor next fall with a trip to South Bend. As much as I would love to see these storied programs go at it annually, it’s only a two-year contract. Enjoy while you can.

Here are this week’s picks:

Oklahoma 23, Notre Dame 21

This prime-time affair ends in total darkness for the Irish, who kiss their national championship hopes goodbye.

This story appears in the print edition of Daily Journal. Subscribers can read the entire story online by signing in here or in our e-Edition by clicking here.