Irish Continue Quest for Perfection, Knocking Off Sooners NORMAN, Okla. - Of course Manti Te'o was there. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones had looked left - to Jalen Saunders, his go-to receiver all night - and tried to hit Saunders's midsection with a tight spiral. As the ball arrived, a Notre Dame defender rocked Saunders from behind, the ball ricocheted into the air and a stadium held its breath as Te'o (who else?) dived and hugged the ball to his chest. In one swift motion, with Notre Dame leading late in the fourth quarter, a tight game and a team's identity were decided. The echoes cheering for old Notre Dame were supposed to be silenced. The Irish were playing No. 8 Oklahoma and Jones, future N.F.L. quarterback. But this was No. 5 Notre Dame, enchanted and destined. Te'o sprinted down the field, thumping his chest, and the Fighting Irish went on to win, 30-13, marching onward - unbeaten at 8-0 - toward a chance at their first national championship since 1988. "It feels good to know that we're heading in that direction," Te'o said of a chance to play for the national title, "that's all that means; 8-0, all that means is we have a chance." For all the headaches he caused the Irish, quarterback Everett Golson's fourth-quarter 50-yard pass to Chris Brown landed as neatly as if it had been dropped from the sky. That led to Golson's 1-yard touchdown run, which put Notre Dame ahead for good. The Irish defense, which looked vulnerable and surrendered its first rushing touchdown this season, supplied timely brawn. Te'o, almost omnipresent on the field, inspired cheers calling for a linebacker to win the Heisman Trophy. Only Southern California, which lost on Saturday, should stand in Notre Dame's way finishing its regular season with an undefeated record. The Fighting Irish's next three opponents - Pittsburgh, Boston College and Wake Forest - are a combined 10-14. For perhaps the first time this season, for at least one half, the Fighting Irish's inexperienced secondary was exposed. Cornerbacks KeiVarae Russell and Bennett Jackson are first-year starters, and safety Matthias Farley was a backup wide receiver last season. Only Zeke Motta, the team's second-leading tackler behind Te'o, had played regularly before this season. In seven games, though, that unit had helped form the nation's 13th-best pass defense, allowing just 174 yards per game. But the Sooners were able to throw the ball, and at halftime Jones had 194 yards on 27 attempts, and should have had more. Jones had time, open receivers, and the arm strength to spray the ball to whomever he chose. Often, Notre Dame's secondary gave Oklahoma's receivers such a great cushion that no defender was within 5 yards of Jones's targets. Quick screen passes, and there were plenty, also let the Sooners rack up yardage. But Oklahoma was determined to run the ball - 14 times in the first half - and Jones was sometimes inaccurate. At one point Te'o pummeled Jones for his first sack this season. Late in the second quarter, the crowd roared when Blake Bell, the 6-foot-6 Oklahoma backup quarterback used in jumbo situations, entered the game. With the ball at the 4-yard line, Bell ran left, scored easily and began to celebrate. But holding was called, and the Sooners settled for a 30-yard field goal that cut their halftime deficit to 10-6. By then, Notre Dame figured it would just keep the ball away from Jones. The Irish kept the ball on the ground with their dynamic quarterback and running back tandem of Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood. Wood demonstrated what he could do late in the first quarter, when he massaged his way to a hole, then ran through it and past the Sooners" initial front for a run that was as easy as a 62-yard touchdown could be. From there, Golson, back after sitting out last week with a concussion, showed why he is both a reason Notre Dame is unbeaten and an enigma. Afforded as much protection as Jones, Golson led the Fighting Irish on three lengthy drives - of 13, 12, and 13 plays - eating nearly 18 minutes combined in the second and third quarters, only to sputter. Getting there was impressive, though. Golson rolled out and threw with precision. He threw difficult passes, especially out toward the sideline, with power and ease. When he ran - and he finished with 64 yards on 11 carries - he was deliberate and effective. But on those three drives, Notre Dame managed just two fields goals, and missed a 35-yarder. Early in the fourth, Notre Dame led by only 7 points, 13-6. After Jones regained his groove to lead the Sooners down the field, Bell came in. Once again he bounced outside, this time running through two defenders and reaching the ball across the goal line. The score was 13-13 when Golson launched his perfect pass, the kind that wakes up the echoes. Now, for old Notre Dame, history awaits.