1976 Cotton Bowl Classic

The 1976 Cotton Bowl Classic was a post-season college football bowl game between the co-Southwest Conference champion Arkansas Razorbacks^[1] and the Georgia Bulldogs. Arkansas defeated Georgia, 31–10 in front of 77,500 spectators.^[2]

1976 Cotton Bowl Classic
40th Cotton Bowl Classic
Arkansas Razorbacks Georgia Bulldogs (9–2) (9–2) SWC SEC 31 10 Head coach:  Frank Broyles Head coach:  Vince Dooley AP Coaches 18 15 AP Coaches 12 11
1 2 3 4 Total Arkansas 0 10 0 21 31 Georgia 10 0 0 0 10
Date	January 1, 1976
Season	1975
Stadium	Cotton Bowl
Location	Dallas, Texas
MVP	HB Ike Forte (Arkansas) LB Hal McAfee (Arkansas)
Favorite	Arkansas by 6
Referee	Vance Carlson (Big Eight)
Attendance	77,500
United States TV coverage
Network	CBS
Announcers	Lindsey Nelson and Alex Hawkins
Cotton Bowl Classic  < 1975  1977 >

Setting

Arkansas

See also: 1975 Arkansas Razorbacks football team

Arkansas finished the regular season 9–2, came into the game on a five-game winning streak. The Hogs were part of a three-way tie for the Southwest Conference Championship with Texas and Texas A&M. The Hogs lost to Texas, 18–24, but gave #2 Texas A&M its first loss in the regular season finale. The 31-6 upset of the Aggies in War Memorial Stadium is one of the most memorable games in Razorback football history.

Georgia

See also: 1975 Georgia Bulldogs football team

Georgia was 9–2 entering the game, tied for second in the Southeastern Conference.

Game summary

The Bulldogs took an early 10–3 lead. Arkansas wouldn't score a touchdown until Georgia's QB Ray Goff tried a 'shoestring' play. He bent as if to tie his shoe and flipped the ball to Gene Washington, a legal play as long as in one motion, but Razorback Hal McAfee scooped up the ball at the 13 yard line.^[3] Ike Forte scored for the Hogs, knotting the game at 10. The two teams were scoreless in the third period, with Arkansas missing three field goals, before the Hogs exploded for 21 unanswered to close the game.

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP ARK UGA 1 53 12 UGA 35-yard field goal by Alan Leavitt 0 3 1 7:21 58 10 UGA Gene Washington 21-yard touchdown reception from Matt Robinson, Alan Leavitt kick good 0 10 2 -7 4 ARK 39-yard field goal by Steve Little 3 10 2 13 2 ARK Ike Forte 1-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good 10 10 4 47 4 ARK Rolland Fuchs 5-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good 17 10 4 9:21 30 6 ARK Michael Forrest 1-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good 24 10 4 1:58 68 12 ARK Ike Forte 6-yard touchdown run, Steve Little kick good 31 10 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 31 10

References

1. "1936 College Football Major Conference Champions | Infoplease". www.infoplease.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023."Major Conference Champions." 1975 SWC Champions. Infoplease.com. Retrieved on April 11, 2010.
2. "Arkansas 31, Georgia 10-Past Classics." History.^{[permanent dead link‍]} The official site of the 2011 Cotton Bowl Classic. Retrieved on April 11, 2010
3. Jones, Mike. "Porkers 'string up' Georgia, 31-10." The Dallas Morning News. 1/2/1976. Article. Retrieved on April 11, 2010.