Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Five standout Sooner season openers

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 10 : The Oklahoma Sooners meet on the field before the game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks September 10, 2016 at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Warhawks 59-17. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** local caption ***
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 10 : The Oklahoma Sooners meet on the field before the game against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks September 10, 2016 at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Warhawks 59-17. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** local caption *** /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 04: Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive players celebrate the game-winning touchdown catch by Ben Koyack against the Standford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Standford 17-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 04: Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive players celebrate the game-winning touchdown catch by Ben Koyack against the Standford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 4, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Standford 17-14. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

September 26, 1953 — Oklahoma vs. Notre Dame in Norman

Prior to the 1970s, the college football season opened much later in September than it does in present day. When the Sooners hosted Notre Dame in the opening game of the 1953 season for both teams, it was just the second time these two powerhouse football programs had met on the gridiron. The first time was the year before at Notre Dame, won by the Fighting Irish 27-21.

Notre Dame came to Norman to open the 1953 season as the No. 1 team in the land. The Sooners also entered the game ranked in the top-10 in the country, at No. 6.

Oklahoma’s Merrill Green intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown and took a punt return 60 yards to the house to pull the Sooners within seven points in the fourth quarter, but the nation’s top-ranked team held on for a 28-21 victory and their second win in a row over Oklahoma.

The Sooners traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa., the following weekend and fought to a 7-7 tie with the unranked Panthers.

Following the tie at Pittsburgh, Oklahoma would go on under Bud Wilkinson to win its next 47 consecutive games, including its next four season openers, and set an NCAA record that may never be broken.

Ironically, it was Notre Dame, the last team Oklahoma had lost to back in 1953, that ended the Sooners unprecedented win streak at 47 games, defeating OU once again in Norman, this time 7-0 in one of the greatest college games of all-time.

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