| 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| 28th Cotton Bowl Classic National Championship Game[1][2][3] | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 1, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 1963 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Cotton Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Dallas, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Scott Appleton (DL Texas) Duke Carlisle (QB Texas) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Texas (slight)[4] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | David Buchanan (EAIFO; split crew: EAIFO, SWC) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 75,504 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | CBS | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Chris Schenkel, Pat Summerall | ||||||||||||||||||||
The 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic was the 28th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, January 1. Part of the 1963–64 bowl game season, the game was a de facto national championship game, as both teams would be playing for the FWAA’s Grantland Rice Trophy.[4][3] The top-ranked and undefeated Texas Longhorns, champions of the Southwest Conference, defeated the #2 Navy Midshipmen, 28–6.[5][6][7][8]
In this era, the final major polls (AP, UPI) were published prior to the bowl games, so Texas would retain those national championships, regardless of the outcome.
- ^ Chass, Murray (December 30, 1963). "Mythical Crown at Stake in Cotton Bowl". The Post-Crescent. Associated Press. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
With Texas and Navy ready to battle for college football's unofficial championship... Unbeaten Texas will have to fend off the East's best to remain first in the minds of the nation's fans.
- ^ Ratliff, Harold V. (December 31, 1963). Written at Dallas, Texas. "'Dream Game' In Dallas Heads Bowl Parade: National Title Is At Stake". The Herald-Palladium. Benton Harbor, Michigan. Associated Press. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
Darrel Royal's eyes flashed when he said it: 'We aren't a bit afraid to put it on the line.' He was discussing the question of whether the national championship would be decided when his Texas football team plays Navy in the Cotton Bowl Wednesday.
- ^ a b Jenkins, Dan (September 11, 1967). "THIS YEAR THE FIGHT WILL BE IN THE OPEN". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
Because of their discontent with all polls, especially those of the wire services, the Football Writers Association of America set about naming the national champion in 1954, also after the bowl games.
- ^ a b "Slightly favored Longhorns ready for Naval battle". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. January 1, 1964. p. 7.
- ^ "Carlisle passes Texas over Middies, 28 to 6". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. January 2, 1964. p. 9A.
- ^ "Texas 1-2 punch rips Navy". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 2, 1964. p. 36.
- ^ Becker, Jim (January 2, 1964). "Riled Longhorns slap Middies, 28-6". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. p. 13.
- ^ Underwood, John (January 13, 1964). "Big day for 'D'". Sports Illustrated. p. 16.