1961 Sugar Bowl - Ole Miss vs. Rice

Despite being heavily favored for the 1961 Sugar Bowl, Ole Miss wasn’t razor sharp for Rice, and the Owls very nearly took advantage.
Ole Miss star Jake Gibbs capped a short early drive by scoring on a dash around end for an early advantage to darken the festive mood in the Rice section of the stands.
However, from that point on, Rice played the favored Rebels on better than even terms.
On fourth-and-one, 163-pound halfback Butch Blume went wide on a fourth-down power sweep to give the Owls a first down at the 10. However, two plays later Allen Green intercepted a Randy Kerbow pass at the Rebel 9. Rice shortly threatened again, but this time Blume’s halfback pass was picked off at the Ole Miss 17.
In the second half, Billy Cox led an impressive 18-play Rice drive. It took four downs to get it in from two and a half yards out, but Blume went around end with four Mississippians on his back to finally get the Owls on the boards. Max Webb missed the extra point, leaving Ole Miss with a precarious 7-6 lead.
Another interception of the Owls gave Ole Miss possession on the Rice 11. But a fourth-down rushing attempt was stuffed by the rejuvenated Owls.
Gibbs finally pulled Ole Miss together. In 10 plays, primarily on the strengths of runners Jim Anderson and Art Doty, Mississippi went 42 yards to camp at the Rice 1. There the Owls fought the Rebels to a standstill for three downs.
Gibbs lined up his teammates - who hadn’t gained a foot since reaching the apron of the goal line - took the snap, stumbled, and then raced wide. He was hit at the goal by two defenders. Barely slipping in and losing the ball in the process. It was ruled Gibbs had already crossed the line before the fumble. Ole Miss held a 14-6 lead with five minutes and 16 seconds remaining. That was enough.
Across the country, Minnesota was upended by Washington in the Rose Bowl. Despite not winning in impressive fashion, Ole Miss found itself the national champions as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

[@corym8358]

Ole Miss was the best team in the nation that year even though they finished #2 in the polls. They were cheated out of the #1 AP final ranking because the AP took their final poll prior to the bowls. Minnesota was put at #1 even though they lost 2 games including their bowl game.

[@charlesramsay2401]

Vaught was all about defense and his QBs were required to be runners as well as passers.

[@robertcullum8361]

Way to go Rebels!

[@johnhebert3855]

Those old-time games were typically low scoring.