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1976 Cotton Bowl Classic
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
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 >

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]

Setting

Arkansas

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

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
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	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

^ "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.
^ "Arkansas 31, Georgia 10-Past Classics." History.^{[permanent dead link‍]} The official site of the 2011 Cotton Bowl Classic. Retrieved on April 11, 2010
^ Jones, Mike. "Porkers 'string up' Georgia, 31-10." The Dallas Morning News. 1/2/1976. Article. Retrieved on April 11, 2010.