1972 Cotton Bowl Classic

December 2025 August 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic 36th Cotton Bowl Classic Cotton Bowl Classic 1972.png January 1 1972 1971 Texas Longhorns 8–2 Darrell Royal SWC 12 12 3 3 0 0 DE Bruce Bannon(Penn State) RB Lydell Mitchell(Penn State) Penn State Nittany Lions 10–1 Joe Paterno Independent 10 11 0 3 17 10 bg CBS Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas Paul Bertha (ECAC;split crew: ECAC, SWC) 70,000 thumb|The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, hosted the 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.January 2, 1972 Texas Wishbone catches in throat 61 Reading Eagle Associated Press Pennsylvania https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1I0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3708%2C970653 January 3, 2017 August 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230818131207/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1I0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3708,970653 live January 2, 1972 Penn State scuttles Texas for 30-6 Cotton Bowl win 1, sports Spokesman-Review Associated Press Spokane, Washington https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1u9LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xe0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2264%2C916622 January 3, 2017 August 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230818131207/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1u9LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xe0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2264,916622 live 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.January 1, 1972 Penn State, Texas seek 'redemption' in Cotton 11 Spokesman-Review Associated Press Spokane, Washington https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1e9LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xe0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2265%2C62867 January 3, 2017 August 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230818131208/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1e9LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xe0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2265,62867 live 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.December 4, 1971 Tennessee to test Nittany Lions 14 Spokesman-Review Associated Press Spokane, Washington) https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QhtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=guwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7222%2C1160828 January 3, 2017 August 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230818131208/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QhtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=guwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7222,1160828 live December 5, 1971 Vols flatten Lions 1, sports Spokesman-Review Associated Press Spokane, Washington) https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QxtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=guwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6764%2C2270159 January 3, 2017 August 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230818131207/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QxtOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=guwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6764,2270159 live (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. 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.January 4, 1972 Huskers solid No. 1 20 Reading Eagle Associated Press Pennsylvania https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1o0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2659%2C2644809 January 3, 2017 October 24, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211024152931/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1o0hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=85kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2659%2C2644809 live 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 242Punts-Average 5-36.0 5-33.0Fumbles-Lost 1-0 5-3Interceptions 1 0Penalties-Yards 2-30 1-5 References Cotton Bowl Classic Category:Cotton Bowl Classic Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football bowl games Category:Texas Longhorns football bowl games Cotton Bowl Classic Cotton Bowl Classic