Going into the last game of the 1949 season, Frank Leahy's Notre Dame Fighting Irish had not lost a game in almost four full seasons. The 1945 squad, coached by Hugh Devore while Leahy served in the military, lost its final game 39-7 at the Great Lakes Naval Air Station. Then Leahy returned to post the following records.

Understandably, the Irish were solid favorites heading to Dallas—as many as 28 points in some betting lines. The Mustangs sported a 5-3-1 record and were coming off back-to-back losses to Baylor (35-26) and archrival Texas Christian (21-13). Adding to coach Madison Bell's prob­lems was the fact that a leg injury would sideline star TB Doak Walker in Bell's last game before retirement.

Walker's replacement, Kyle Rote, played the game of his life and nearly led the Mustangs to the upset of the season before an overflow crowd of 75,457. Rote "smashed and crashed" for 115y on the ground and completed 10 of 24 passes for 146y. Notre Dame's 19-year-old QB Bob Williams, who succeeded Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack, connected on 11 of 18 for 165 yards, inclu­ding two touchdowns.

The Mustangs took the opening kickoff and, led by Rote who took the direct snap from center in place of Walker, drove into Irish territory. Kyle completed three passes in a row from what today is called the "Shotgun" formation. But after a 15y holding penalty, sophomore QB Fred Benners threw into the hands of ND's Jerry Groom, who returned the interception to the SMU 31.

Penalties and incompletions throttled each team's next advances. Finally, after nine scoreless minutes, Notre Dame broke through when Williams sailed a 42y touchdown pass to Bill Wight­kin on the dead run behind Rote. Notre Dame 7 SMU 0.

The most sensational play of the game came a few minutes later. Rote handed to Johnny Champion who lofted a pass to Zohn Milam who caught the ball on the ND 40 and ran to the 6, where DB John Petibon overtook him. That was a crucial play because the Irish held on downs at the one foot line.

Following an Irish interception shortly before the half, Williams' pass was deflected into the hands of Ernie Zajeski for a touchdown. A missed PAT left the visitors ahead 13-0 at the break.

An offside penalty negated a Notre Dame touchdown pass from Williams to mammoth E Leon Hart shortly before the end of the half.

The Irish were on their way to another touchdown in the third quarter when Ernie Zalejski fumbled, and Jack Halliday recovered for SMU at the Pony 13.

SMU started moving the ball in the third quarter after recovering another Zalejski fumble, this one at the ND 47. Rote drove his team to the 3, where he powered into the end zone. Bill Sulli­van's extra point made it 13-7.

Later in the period, E Jim Mutscheller intercepted Rote at the SMU 22. Williams passed to Hart, who lateraled to Frank Spaniel for a first down on the 12. With Hart playing fullback, three runs moved the ball to the 3. Bill Barrett took the ball into the end zone from there to stretch the lead back to 13. Notre Dame 20 SMU 7

The final 15 minutes saw what the AP writer called "the gutsiest performance by a foot­ball player in the history of the game." Bell inserted H. N. "Rusty" Russell at quarter­back, allow­ing Rote to move to halfback. Russell handed to Rote who, with the Irish keying on him, flipped the ball to Champion who caught it at the SMU 34 and raced to the Irish 1. Rote scored on the next play to bring the Mustangs back to a 6-point deficit. Notre Dame 20 SMU 14

When the Irish were forced to punt on their next series, Billy Richards returned it to the ND 14. It took Rote only two plays to find the end zone for the third time. However, the extra point was blocked, leaving SMU tied with the #1 team in the land. Notre Dame 20 SMU 20

Barrett, Sitko, and Hart alternated carrying the ball to run out the clock to preserve the Notre Dame streak. The victory was their tightest of the season, the previous closest game having been 34-21 vs Michigan State.