Stormin in Norman
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Five Best Sooner Football Season-Openers Over Last 70 Seasons

By Chip Rouse

Sep 5, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after a touchdown against the Akron Zips during the third quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after a touchdown against the Akron Zips during the third quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish run onto the field before the game against the Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish run onto the field before the game against the Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Sept. 26, 1953 – Notre Dame 28, Oklahoma 21

This was only the second time Oklahoma and Notre Dame had battled each other on a football field. The year before, in 1952, they played their inaugural game, with the Fighting Irish winning 27-21 in South Bend, Ind.

The next season, they met in the season opener in Norman. The Sooners came into the 1953 season ranked No. 6 in the nation, but Notre Dame was the nation’s top-ranked team. Oklahoma took an early 14-7 lead, but Notre Dame came back to tie the game at 14 going into halftime. The Fighting Irish scored the next 14 points to take a 28-14 lead.

The Sooners weren’t finished though. They scored on a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown by Merrill Green, and had another opportunity to score late in the game, when Notre Dame’s Johnny Lattner intercepted a pass from OU’s Buddy Leake, sealing a 28-21 victory for the Irish.

This game was significant in Oklahoma football history for another reason. It was the last game the Sooners would lose for 48 consecutive games. They tied Pittsburgh 7-7 on the road the following weekend. The next weekend, Oklahoma beat Texas 19-14 in the annual Red River rivalry game, the first of what would become an unprecedented 47 consecutive wins.

Next: Sept. 27, 1958 - Oklahoma 47, West Virginia 14

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