1972 Sugar Bowl (January)

The 1972 Sugar Bowl was a college football bowl played on January 1, 1972 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game featured the Auburn Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Oklahoma Sooners of the Big Eight Conference. This was the last Sugar Bowl played in January until 1977.

Background

Both teams were ranked in the top five in the polls, as this game was a tale of duality. Both teams averaged over 300 yards on the season, though Oklahoma's record setting 566 yards a game was more notable than Auburn's 393. Both teams started the season 9–0, with both teams losing late in the season to their respective arch-rivals, who were likewise undefeated and untied. Auburn lost to Alabama, and Oklahoma lost to Nebraska, the losses costing each team a conference title. Alabama and Nebraska ended up playing in the Orange Bowl for the national championship, essentially making this a runner-up game.^[2] Auburn was playing in their first Sugar Bowl game while Oklahoma was playing their 4th and first since 1951.

Game summary

Though he threw only four passes, quarterback Jack Mildren used his legs to help win the game and the MVP award, running 30 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Leon Crosswhite helped start the scoring with a touchdown run on OU's first drive. Mildren scored three straight touchdown runs to make it 25–0 by the second quarter and after a punt return touchdown by Joe Wylie, it was 31–0, which ended up being the lead at halftime. Unger scored two rushing touchdowns in the second half to narrow the lead to 34–14, but Priutt made it 40–14 on his touchdown run as Auburn added a meaningless Pat Sullivan touchdown pass to make the final score 40–22. Oklahoma had more yards, fewer turnovers (2 to 3), and more first downs. Oklahoma won their first Sugar Bowl since 1950.^[3]^[4]

Aftermath

The Sooners returned to the Sugar Bowl in December and won, becoming the only school to win the same bowl game twice in a calendar year. Auburn waited eleven years for their next Sugar Bowl, a victory.

Statistics

Statistics	Oklahoma	Auburn
First Downs	28	15
Yards Rushing	439	40
Yards Passing	11	250
Total Yards	450	290
Punts-Average	5-35.4	5-48.6
Fumbles-Lost	5-2	5-1
Interceptions	0	2
Penalties-Yards	3-12	0-0

References

^ "Sugar(y) explosion favors Sooners". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. January 1, 1972. p. 1B.
^ http://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site435.php
^ http://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site125.php
^ "1972 Sugar Bowl (January)". Oklahoma Sooners Football Media Guide. Oklahoma Sooners Athletics. p. 157. Retrieved January 10, 2015.

[sgryexp-1] "Sugar(y) explosion favors Sooners". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. January 1, 1972. p. 1B.

[2] ttp://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site435.php

[3] ttp://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site125.php

[sfmg-4] "1972 Sugar Bowl (January)". Oklahoma Sooners Football Media Guide. Oklahoma Sooners Athletics. p. 157. Retrieved January 10, 2015.

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Sugar Bowl
History & conference tie-ins	History Tulane Stadium Georgia Dome Caesars Superdome College Football Playoff Broadcasters Southeastern Conference Big 12 Conference
Games	1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 (Jan) 1972 (Dec) 1973 1974 1975 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 (Jan) 1995 (Dec) 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 (Jan) 2022 (Dec) 2024
Notes	The 2006 game took place in Atlanta, Georgia due to Hurricane Katrina. The game was also the national title game for either the Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, or Bowl Championship Series in 1993, 1997, 2000, and 2004. There was a Sugar Bowl in January and December in 1972, 1995 and 2022. The game was a College Football Playoff semifinal in its 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2024 editions.