The 1972 Sugar Bowl (January) was the 38th edition of the

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

bowl game, played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday, January 1. It featured the third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners of the

Big Eight Conference The Big Eight Conference was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football. It was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Associatio ...

and the #5 Auburn Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The favored Sooners won 40–22. This was the last Sugar Bowl played in January until

1977 Events January * January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democratic R ...

, as it moved to

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...

night for the next four editions.

Teams

Although the runner-up in their respective conferences, 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.

Oklahoma

On Thanksgiving day, Oklahoma lost a late lead to visiting #1 Nebraska in a memorable game, and fell from second to third in the rankings. This was the Sooners' fourth appearance in the Sugar Bowl, but first since

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

Auburn

Auburn lost 31–7 to Alabama in late November; they remained at fifth in the rankings and were invited to their first Sugar Bowl. Alabama and Nebraska matched up in the Orange Bowl for the national championship, essentially making this a runner-up game.

Game summary

Televised by ABC, the kickoff was in the morning at Though he threw only four passes (with one completion), Oklahoma quarterback Jack Mildren used his legs to help win the game and the MVP award, running thirty 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 Sooner kicker John Carroll made a 53-yard field goal before Auburn finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown run by fullback Harry Unger, and the score was after three quarters. The Sooners responded as halfback Greg Pruitt made it an even forty points, and Auburn then scored two late touchdowns. The first was a pass from

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...

winner Pat Sullivan to Sandy Cannon with less than four minutes remaining, and Unger added another on the ground to complete the scoring at Oklahoma had more yards, fewer turnovers (2 to 3), and more first downs, and won their first Sugar Bowl

Scoring

First quarter *Oklahoma –

Leon Crosswhite Leon Crosswhite (born April 28, 1951) is a former American football fullback. College career Crosswhite attended University of Oklahoma and played for the Sooners football team as a Running back part of the Wishbone formation, from 1970 to 19 ...

4-yard run (kick failed) *Oklahoma – Jack Mildren 5-yard run (John Carroll kick) *Oklahoma – Joe Wylie 71-yard punt return (pass failed) Second quarter *Oklahoma – Mildren 4-yard run (run failed) *Oklahoma – Mildren 7-yard run (pass failed) Third quarter *Oklahoma – Carroll 53-yard field goal *Auburn – Harry Unger 2-yard run (Gardner Jett kick) Fourth quarter *Oklahoma – Greg Pruitt 2-yard run (kick failed) *Auburn – Sandy Cannon 12-yard pass from Pat Sullivan (Jett kick) *Auburn – Unger 1-yard run (David Beck run) :

Statistics

: :

Aftermath

Oklahoma moved up to second in the final AP poll, followed by Colorado, the only time the top three teams were from the same conference. to fourth and Auburn dropped The Sooners returned to the

Sugar Bowl The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in New Orleans, Louisiana. Played annually since January 1, 1935, it is tied with the Orange Bowl and Sun Bowl as the second-oldest bowl games in the country, surpassed onl ...

in December and defeated

Penn State #Redirect Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campu ...

, becoming the only school to win the same bowl game twice in a calendar year. Auburn waited twelve years for their next Sugar Bowl, a victory over Michigan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1972 Sugar Bowl (01)

Sugar Bowl Auburn Tigers football bowl games Oklahoma Sooners football bowl games