The Texas Longhorns repeated as Southwest Conference champions and were ranked third in the polls in early October, but consecutive losses (to rivalOklahoma 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.[6]
The convincing win pushed Penn State back up to fifth for the final AP poll, while Texas fell to 18th.[7]
Aftermath
The Longhorns went to three more Cotton Bowls in the 1970s, while Penn State returned three years later.
Statistics
Statistics
PSU
Texas
First Downs
18
15
Yards Rushing
239
159
Yards Passing
137
83
Total Yards
376
242
Punts-Average
5-36.0
5-33.0
Fumbles-Lost
1-0
5-3
Interceptions
1
0
Penalties-Yards
2-30
1-5
References
^ ab"Texas Wishbone catches in throat". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 61.
^ ab"Penn State scuttles Texas for 30-6 Cotton Bowl win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 2, 1972. p. 1, sports.
^ ab"Penn State, Texas seek 'redemption' in Cotton". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 1, 1972. p. 11.
^"Tennessee to test Nittany Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 4, 1971. p. 14.
^"Vols flatten Lions". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 5, 1971. p. 1, sports.
^(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2014-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Huskers solid No. 1". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. January 4, 1972. p. 20.
January 15, 2023
1972, cotton, bowl, classic, college, football, bowl, game, between, penn, state, nittany, lions, texas, longhorns, 36th, cotton, bowl, classic, played, saturday, january, 1972, cotton, bowl, dallas, texas, 36th, cotton, bowl, classicpenn, state, nittany, lion. 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 Classic36th Cotton Bowl ClassicPenn State Nittany Lions Texas Longhorns 10 1 8 2 Independent SWC30 6Head coach Joe Paterno Head coach Darrell RoyalAPCoaches1011 APCoaches12121234 TotalPenn State 031710 30Texas 3300 6DateJanuary 1 1972Season1971StadiumCotton BowlLocationDallas TexasMVPDE Bruce Bannon Penn State RB Lydell Mitchell Penn State RefereePaul Bertha ECAC split crew ECAC SWC Attendance70 000United States TV coverageNetworkCBSCotton Bowl Classic lt 1971 1973 gt Contents 1 Background 2 Game summary 3 Aftermath 4 Statistics 5 ReferencesBackground EditThe 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 EditThe 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 6 The convincing win pushed Penn State back up to fifth for the final AP poll while Texas fell to 18th 7 Aftermath EditThe Longhorns went to three more Cotton Bowls in the 1970s while Penn State returned three years later Statistics EditStatistics PSU TexasFirst Downs 18 15Yards Rushing 239 159Yards Passing 137 83Total Yards 376 242Punts Average 5 36 0 5 33 0Fumbles Lost 1 0 5 3Interceptions 1 0Penalties Yards 2 30 1 5References Edit a b Texas Wishbone catches in throat Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press January 2 1972 p 61 a b Penn State scuttles Texas for 30 6 Cotton Bowl win Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press January 2 1972 p 1 sports a b Penn State Texas seek redemption in Cotton Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press January 1 1972 p 11 Tennessee to test Nittany Lions Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press December 4 1971 p 14 Vols flatten Lions Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press December 5 1971 p 1 sports Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2015 01 05 Retrieved 2014 12 28 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Huskers solid No 1 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press January 4 1972 p 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1972 Cotton Bowl Classic amp oldid 1117567323, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
