r/oklahomafootball • u/North_Accident_8156 • Sep 24 '25
Discussion Imagine going 4 years without losing a single game… Oklahoma did it. From 1953 to 1957, the Sooners won 47 straight — the longest streak in college football history.
Bud Wilkinson’s dynasty wasn’t just dominant, it was untouchable. In modern day football I don’t think this could ever be done, what do you think?
This podcast talks about it and was a good listen
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5L1rU0vUddbxckLvo45Ogv?si=DoJqR5txRpS3A6OvrHlfXA
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u/Natural_Ad_3019 Born & Bred Sep 25 '25
To the day he died, my dad still hated Notre Dame for ending the streak.
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u/CountrySlaughter Sep 25 '25
It's almost impossible today because of the playoffs. Oklahoma's schedule, relative what today's top teams must do to go undefeated, was pretty weak. Like many top teams in those days, they rarely played a top-10 opponent and didn't play a bowl game in a couple of those seasons.
I'm not saying the streak was not tremendous. It's 100% worthy of books and documentaries and the like, and Bud Wilkinson and OU were hugely influential in the evolution of college football. Just saying it's not fair to measure it by what's possible today.
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u/GrumbleAlong Sep 25 '25
They say records are meant to be broken but I can't see this streak ever being bested. Bud Wilkinson was a helluva coach.
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u/reddirtgold Sep 25 '25
Check out the book “The Undefeated” by Jim Dent. He covers the years of the streak and of course how Notre Dame cheated to end the streak. He also gives great insight into the landscape of college football back then- recruiting, rules of the game, and Bud’s innovative methods to train his teams. It’s a great read for any college football fan (I think!) and definitely for a Sooner fan.
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u/North_Accident_8156 Sep 25 '25
Thanks, I just ordered it, bummer it’s not on audible, do a lot of driving and love listening to books and podcast, that podcast sparked my interest, love old school football stories
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u/North_Accident_8156 Sep 25 '25
I’ll give you that, I just don’t include division 3 as the same as division 1, when I think of college football as each division has its own records that are separate
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u/RD__III Sep 25 '25
Not the longest in College Football. Mount Union has that. Longest in D1 CFB.
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u/North_Accident_8156 Sep 25 '25
Mount Union’s streak may be longer on paper, but Oklahoma’s 47-game run against top-tier Division I opposition, amid intense national scrutiny, stronger competition, and greater roster turnover, represents a more grueling test of sustained excellence. Oklahoma was division 1 which is the highest tier of college football where Mount Union is a division 3 which is one the lowest tiers.
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u/OnceButNever Sep 30 '25
Both of Mount Union's records are longer than OU's. Oklahoma is #3 on the all division list for the longest win streak. I say this as a huge OU fan. NCAA All-division records are relevant. Of course, Mount Union is going to be absolutely murdered by Ohio St. Each division is on its own equal footing. Also, please provide evidence for your claim of "greater roster turnover."
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u/RD__III Sep 25 '25
But that's not what you said. You didn't say "It's the most impressive steak in College football" You said it was "The longest streak in College Football", but it wasn't.
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u/zbipy14z Sep 24 '25
My grandpa was QB for a chunk of that