In the history of collegiate sports, there are two major sports records that may never be eclipsed. They are both the longest team winning streaks in the most prominent of American college sports; football and basketball.
The record for consecutive games won at the Division 1-A level is 88 by UCLA from 1971 to 1974. During that time period, the Bruins won the national championship 3 times, from 1971 to 1973. The record for consecutive games won by a Division 1 college football program is 47 from 1953 to 1957 by the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners won national championships in 1955 and 1956.
The Oklahoma streak started on October 10, 1953 with a 19-14 defeat of the Texas Longhorns. It ended on ended November 16, 1957 with a loss to Notre Dame, 0-7. The UCLA basketball streak started January 30, 1971 with a 74-61 victory over Cal Santa Barbara. It ended January 19, 1974 with a loss to Notre dame, 70-71.
Notre Dame ended both streaks with 17 years separating the two events. This is common knowledge in the sports world. But, what fewer people know is that both streaks started following a loss to Notre Dame, as well. Oklahoma lost to Notre Dame in the Sooners’ season opener of 1953 on September 26, 28-21. The following week, they tied Pitt, 7-7. UCLA also lost to Notre Dame in basketball on January 23, 1971, seven days before their record streak began.
Notre Dame basketball and football are separated by light years in their historical significance. Notre Dame football has been dominant throughout history. The 1950’s are regarded as a down time for that program. But, it is still Notre Dame and, since Oklahoma and Notre Dame played a seasonal series against each other in the 1950’s, it is perhaps not surprising that the Irish provided the bookends to the streak. The basketball program at Notre Dame has always taken a backseat to football. So, the fact that the UCLA streak began and ended with the Irish is a little more improbable. But, in the 1970’s, Notre Dame basketball was on the rise. The 1971 squad was led by Austin Carr and the 1974 team was one of the nation’s best, rising in the rankings to #2 that season.
These facts are beguiling to Notre Dame haters and a source of pride to Notre Dame fans. It is, in any event, one of sports’ great ironies that this occurred. The streaks themselves are improbable. But, the way they began and ended are probably more so.
The beginning and ending of college sports' greatest winning streaks
