1975 Sugar Bowl

American college football game August 2023 December 2025 Sugar Bowl 42nd Sugar Bowl Louisiana Superdome - Unbranded - 26 July 2021.jpg The Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, hosted the Sugar Bowl. December 31 1975 1975 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana Penn State University Penn State Nittany Lions 9–2 8 8 Joe Paterno Independent 0 0 3 3 University of Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide 10–1 4 4 Bear Bryant SEC 3 0 7 3 Richard Todd (Alabama QB) Alabama by 13 pointshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0h4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3263%2C3702808 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Alabama trio benched for curfew violation December 31, 1975 11 Clint Fuller (Southwest) 75,212 ABC Keith Jackson, Bud Wilkinson 1977 The 1975 Sugar Bowl was the 42nd edition of the college football bowl game, played at night in the new Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday, December 31. Part of the 1975–76 bowl game season, it matched the fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the independent #8 Penn State Nittany Lions. In the first Sugar Bowl played in the recently completed Superdome, favored Alabama won 13–6. This was the last of four consecutive editions played at night on New Year's Eve; it returned to January 1, 1977, as a day game. Teams 1975 NCAA Division I football season Alabama 1975 Alabama Crimson Tide football team Alabama completed the regular season as SEC champions with a 10–1 record. The only defeat was a 20–7 non-conference loss to Missouri in week one. On November 17, bowl officials announced that Alabama would face Penn State in the Sugar Bowl.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=amA0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=7p0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7020%2C3270738 Alabama vs. Penn State in Sugar Mike McKenize Tuscaloosa News 9 November 17, 1975 January 19, 2011 It marked the seventh appearance for Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and their 29th bowl game. The Tide entered the Sugar Bowl as a thirteen-point favorite but had not won in its last eight bowl games. Penn State 1975 Penn State Nittany Lions football team Penn State completed the regular season with a record of 9–2. Their only defeats were a 17–9 loss to Ohio State in week three and a 15–14 loss to North Carolina State in week ten. On November 17, bowl officials announced that Penn State would face Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The invitation to Penn State was controversial as Alabama's Bryant personally selected Penn State as their opponent instead of the Big Eight runner-up (#6 Nebraska), ranked higher than the Nittany Lions. Bryant was miffed that the Orange Bowl, which was committed to the Big Eight champion (#3 Oklahoma), had snubbed the Crimson Tide in favor of the Big Ten runner-up, #5 Michigan (the Big Ten (and Pac-8), allowed multiple bowl teams for the first time this season). In Bryant's view, this effectively killed Alabama's chances for a national championship.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a2A0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=7p0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6945%2C3352231 Bryant defends picking Penn State as foe Mike McKenize The Tuscaloosa News 9 November 18, 1975 January 19, 2011 It was the second appearance for Penn State in the Sugar Bowl and their fourteenth bowl game. Game Summary The game kicked off shortly after 6:30 p.m. CST on New Year's Eve, televised by ABC.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-BJZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WUYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5198%2C5661009 Victoria Advocate Texas Associated Press Sugar, Peach Bowls on tap December 31, 1975 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0h4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3263%2C3702808 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Alabama trio benched for curfew violation December 31, 1975 11 After Penn State's Chris Bahr missed a 62-yard field goal, Alabama scored on a 25-yard Danny Ridgeway field goal.Lions bow to Alabama https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hqlRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5446%2C248527 Phil Axelrod Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 48 January 1, 1976 January 19, 2011 The second quarter was scoreless, and the Crimson Tide led 3–0 at halftime. Penn State tied the game at three on a 42-yard Bahr field goal in the third quarter. Alabama responded on the following drive with the lone touchdown of the game, a 14-yard Mike Stock run, to take a 10–3 lead.Sugar Bowl is sweet for Alabama https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZqcfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QtYEAAAAIBAJ&dq=sugar-bowl%20alabama%20penn-state&pg=1034%2C92428 Austin Wilson The Associated Press The Gadsden Times 17 January 1, 1976 January 19, 2011 A 37-yard Bahr field goal reduced the lead to four points with under twelve minutes remaining. The Crimson Tide responded with an extended drive, resulting in a 28-yard Ridgeway field goal to push the lead back to seven at 13–6, the final score. For his 210 yards passing after completing ten of twelve pass attempts, Alabama quarterback Richard Todd was named the game's outstanding player. It was Alabama's first bowl win in nine years (since January 1967) and started a string of six straight bowl victories. Penn State Alabama expand 1 5:33 Alabama 9 72 FG 25 Danny Ridgeway 0 3 3 4:33 Penn State 69 FG 42 Chris Bahr 3 3 3 1:42 Alabama RushTD Mike Stock 14 good Danny Ridgeway 3 10 4 11:19 Penn State FG 37 Chris Bahr 6 10 4 3:19 Alabama FG 28 Danny Ridgeway 6 13 6 13 Statistics {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" ! Statistics !! Penn State !!  Alabama  |- |align=left|First downs || 12|| 14 |- |align=left|Rushes–yards|| 41–157 || 49–106 |- |align=left|Passing yards || 57 ||210 |- |align=left|Passes ||8–14–1 || 10–12–0 |- |align=left|Total offense || 55–214 || 61–316 |- |align=left|Punts–average ||4–48.5 || 5–40.8 |- |align=left|Fumbles–lost ||1–0|| 1–0 |- |align=left|Turnovers|| 1|| 0 |- |align=left|Penalties–yards ||0–0|| 3–22 |} Source: See also Alabama–Penn State football rivalry References Sugar Bowl Category:Sugar Bowl Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football bowl games Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football bowl games Sugar Bowl Sugar Bowl