1984 Cotton Bowl Classic

MVP	QB John Lastinger (Georgia) LB Jeff Leiding (Texas)

The 1984 Cotton Bowl Classic featured the Georgia Bulldogs of the SEC against the undefeated, number two Texas Longhorns of the SWC.

Georgia first score came on a 43-yard field goal by Kevin Butler in the closing seconds of the first quarter.

Texas led 9-3 with more than four minutes to play . Texas kicker Jeff Ward scored first with a 22-yard field goal on the 'Horns' first possession and added six more points with two more field goals of 40 and 27 yards in the third quarter. A Chip Andrews (Georgia) muffed punt by Texas defensive back Craig Curry late in the fourth quarter allowed Georgia quarterback John Lastinger to run 17 yards for a touchdown with 3:22 left to play to capture a 10-9 victory. The loss was the first for the Longhorns, costing them a possible national title.

Aftermath

Later that evening, top-ranked Nebraska was upset by number five Miami Hurricanes, 31-30, in the Orange Bowl. Miami moved past Nebraska and the Longhorns to secure their first National Championship. The Georgia Bulldogs finished 10-1-1 and ranked 4th in the country.