1972 Cotton Bowl Classic

The 1972 Cotton Bowl Classic was a college football bowl game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Texas Longhorns. The 36th Cotton Bowl Classic, it was played on Saturday, January 1, 1972, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.[1][2]

1972 Cotton Bowl Classic
36th Cotton Bowl Classic
Penn State Nittany Lions Texas Longhorns
(10–1) (8–2)
Independent SWC
30 6
Head coach: 
Joe Paterno		 Head coach: 
Darrell Royal
APCoaches
1011
APCoaches
1212
1234 Total
Penn State 031710 30
Texas 3300 6
DateJanuary 1, 1972
Season1971
StadiumCotton Bowl
LocationDallas, Texas
MVPDE Bruce Bannon
(Penn State)
RB Lydell Mitchell
(Penn State)
RefereePaul Bertha (ECAC;
split crew: ECAC, SWC)
Attendance70,000
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS

Background

The Texas Longhorns repeated as Southwest Conference champions and were ranked third in the polls in early October, but consecutive losses (to rival Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl and to #15 Arkansas in Little Rock) dropped them to 3–2 and out of national title contention.[3] Texas won its next five games to gain their fourth straight appearance in the Cotton Bowl, all as SWC champion.

The independent Nittany Lions had climbed to 10–0 and fifth in the rankings before the last game of the regular season, a 31–11 upset loss at #12 Tennessee on December 4.[3][4][5] (That loss left only Nebraska, Alabama, and Michigan as undefeated, and the first two met for the national title in the Orange Bowl in Miami.) It was Penn State's first Cotton Bowl in 24 years, since 1948.

Game summary

The teams traded field goals and Texas led 6–3 at halftime, but the Nittany Lions scored 27 unanswered points in the second half.[1][2] Penn State running back Lydell Mitchell and quarterback John Hufnagel had touchdown runs while Hufnagel threw a touchdown pass to Scott Skarzynski. Alberto Vitiello had three field goals for the Lions while Steve Valek kicked two for Texas, their only scoring.

The convincing win pushed Penn State back up to fifth for the final AP poll, while Texas fell to 18th.[6]

Aftermath

The Longhorns went to three more Cotton Bowls in the 1970s, while Penn State returned three years later.

Statistics
StatisticsPSUTexas
First Downs1815
Yards Rushing239159
Yards Passing13783
Total Yards376242
Punts-Average5-36.05-33.0
Fumbles-Lost1-05-3
Interceptions10
Penalties-Yards2-301-5

References
  1. "Texas Wishbone catches in throat". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 61.
  2. "Penn State scuttles Texas for 30-6 Cotton Bowl win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 1, sports.
  3. "Penn State, Texas seek 'redemption' in Cotton". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1972. p. 11.
  4. "Tennessee to test Nittany Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 4, 1971. p. 14.
  5. "Vols flatten Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1971. p. 1, sports.
  6. "Huskers solid No. 1". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 4, 1972. p. 20.
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