NORMAN (AP)  In all his time as Oklahoma's coach, Bob Stoops has always found a way to navigate his Sooners around the potential trap that looms each year following the emotionally charged Red River Rivalry.
He sees no reason that should change this year just because Notre Dame  ranked No. 5 after a 6-0 start  is looming right around the corner for No. 10 Oklahoma (4-1, 2-1 Big 12).
Stoops is 13 for 13 in games that immediately follow the annual showdown with Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. That includes five victories against Kansas (1-5, 0-3), which will visit Owen Field on Saturday night in that situation yet again.
"We've got a pretty good record after Texas. Our season doesn't begin and end with Texas," Stoops said Monday. "It never has. So, in the end, we'll be ready to play."
The challenge will be avoiding looking ahead to facing the current Notre Dame team while preparing to deal with some of the former Fighting Irish: Kansas coach Charlie Weis and quarterback Dayne Crist.
"It shouldn't matter at all the team that we're going to play," safety Javon Harris said. "Kansas is going to come in here and play lights out against us. We know any team that we play is going to play to their max potential, and it's going to be up to us on what we do."

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