NORMAN, Okla. — Notre Dame had its longest run of the season, a tipped pass that went for an interception and a play-action pass so good, it was the deciding play of its visit to Oklahoma and maybe the biggest play of the year for the Irish.
But want to know what's bigger for the Irish? Brian Kelley's team took what was a great season and parlayed it into becoming one of college football's elite teams on an October night, far from home.
The Irish did it in front of the college football world on national TV — as a double-digit underdog — knocking off the No. 6 Sooners 30-13 in front of 86,031 fans. It makes the Irish BCS relevant.
Tied at 13-13 with 9:10 left, in front of a crowd holding a grudge more than 60 years old, the Irish didn't play it safe or conservative ... or even do what they had done with great success all night. Instead, Notre Dame proved itself worthy of being talked about as one of college football's elite teams by faking the run and throwing it deep.
Fifty yards and a kidney punch. Quarterback Everett Golson to Chris Brown. Five plays later a Notre Dame touchdown. But before that play, the Irish did it by whipping Oklahoma in every way possible.
It's OK to believe now, too. Not impressed by a buffet of Big Ten wins (Purdue, at Michigan State, Michigan)? Thought the Irish were lucky in beating Stanford in overtime and then hanging on against BYU? Understandable.
But this wasn't any of that. This was a road win against a member of a club only Notre Dame and a select few are in. This was at Oklahoma and this was a head-kicking.
When asked if the Irish are one of the best teams in the country, receiver TJ Brown answered, "Yes. Yes. We do. We've proven it so far this season."
Here's some more proof:
* Golson took a shot to the ribs that forced him from the game. He came back that same drive and led his team to a field goal.
* The Notre Dame defense went from really good to legendary, holding an OU team to 13 points and 15 rushing yards. It was the Sooners' lowest point total since 2009.
* The Notre Dame offense hogged the ball, ran for 215 yards, hit a pair of home runs and a bunch of singles with a sophomore quarterback who never turned the ball over.
* Oklahoma had scored 41, 63 and 52 points in its last three games. The Sooners had six at halftime.
While coach Kelly will talk about next week's opponent Pittsburgh and avoid discussing the process of becoming elite, it's OK if the rest of the college football world gives in a bit.
"We don't care what others think of us," Kelly said. "It's a step. We have not arrived in any way, shape or form."
Saturday's win was the second on the road against a top-10 team this season and Notre Dame's fourth against a top-20 team overall. That's what the rest of the country would call, "Arriving."
"We don't pay attention to that," said linebacker Manti Te'o, who continues to increase his Heisman chances. "Once we start, that's when we get in trouble. I think we're on our way. We have a lot of work to do."
A lot of work has already been done. Notre Dame improved to 9-1 all time against the Sooners. This one might not be as big as the one in 1957 that ended the Sooners 47-game winning streak, but it's certainly has the potential to be wrapped in history.
It's Kelly's signature victory at Notre Dame coming against a Sooners squad which had been playing better offensively and defensively than any other team in the country over the past three weeks.
"We'll lose if we start listening to that," Kelly said. "We'll lose a football game. They are a smart group and they know if they stick with the process of just preparing for Pittsburgh they'll be fine. If they listen to all those other things, they'll lose."
Hard to imagine what process would lead to a Notre Dame loss against Pittsburgh, at Boston College or Wake Forest before the Dec. 1 regular-season finale at now-two-loss USC. Hard to imagine a more-difficult environment for the Irish than Norman.
It's hard to imagine Notre Dame being an underdog in its next three games like it was Saturday night.
"We can't stop and look up," Golson said. "If you do, you'll miss an opportunity."
Saturday was an opportunity unique to college football. It was the blue bloods of college football tied in the fourth quarter with all the momentum on the side of the home team.
"The whole week they didn't talk about Oklahoma," Kelly said. "They talked about playing well today. They put in the time and the preparation to do well today. This was a group that was confident. It was not, 'I hope we play well.'
"They knew they would."
