By Darin 
On November 16, 1957, the unranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish traveled to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the No. 2 Sooners. This was no ordinary game; the Sooners, coached by the legendary Bud Wilkinson, were riding an NCAA record-breaking 47-game unbeaten streak, a run that had started four years earlier and included back-to-back national titles. The intimidating Sooners had even crushed the Irish 40-0 the previous year.
But this particular Saturday, the struggling Notre Dame team, led by Coach Terry Brennan, was determined to end the dynasty.
A Defensive Battle of Wills
The game was a brutal defensive standoff, with neither team able to generate significant offense for three quarters. The Sooners, known for their high-scoring Split-T offense, were consistently frustrated by a determined Irish defense that played with an intensity fueled by the desire to snap the streak. Assistant Coach Bernie Crimmins‘ precise scouting of Oklahoma’s tendencies proved invaluable in keeping the Sooners off the scoreboard.
The game remained locked in a tense 0-0 tie deep into the fourth quarter, played before a massive crowd of over 63,000 fans who had never witnessed an Oklahoma loss.
The Miracle Drive and the Winning Play
With less than 13 minutes left, the Irish took possession on their own 20-yard line and executed what became known as the “miracle drive.” It was a relentless, sustained effort of 20 plays that chewed up yardage and clock, moving the ball 80 yards against the suffocating Oklahoma defense. Fullback Nick Pietrosante was a battering ram, converting several crucial third downs, while halfback Dick Lynch contributed key carries to keep the drive alive.
The Irish finally found themselves facing fourth-and-goal at the Oklahoma 3-yard line. With the clock winding down to just under four minutes, the Sooners defense packed the goal line, expecting the Irish to give the ball to the powerful Pietrosante. Quarterback Bob Williams faked a handoff to Pietrosante up the middle, freezing the defense, and then quickly pitched the ball outside to Dick Lynch. Lynch swept untouched around the right end into the end zone for the game’s only touchdown.
The extra point gave Notre Dame a stunning 7-0 lead.
Article from Nov 17, 1957 The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska)
The Sooners had one last desperate chance, but Bob Williams sealed his hero status by intercepting an Oklahoma pass in the end zone with only a minute left, officially ending the historic streak. The defeat, a major shock in college football, bookended the streak, which had ironically begun with a 1953 victory over the Irish.