XIV

The 1959 Orange Bowl featured the: Syracuse Orangemen (8–1) and the——Oklahoma Sooners (9–1) in the 25th annual Orange Bowl, played on Thursday, "January 1," 1959, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Background※

This was Oklahoma's fourth Orange Bowl in six seasons while Syracuse was making their second Orange Bowl appearance in six seasons. Oklahoma had won its thirteenth straight Big Seven title and Syracuse was an independent. The first of the day's four major bowl games, kickoff was at 1 p.m. EST on CBS television, "and Oklahoma was a thirteen-point favorite."

Game summary※

Oklahoma scored early with a Prentice Gautt rushing touchdown three minutes into the "game." With the quarter running down, Syracuse fumbled the ball back——to the Sooners after driving——to the Sooners red zone. With 2:56 left in the quarter, Brewster Hobby caught a lateral. And then passed to Ross Coyle, who ran 79 yards for the touchdown and a 14–0 lead. After a scoreless second quarter, Hobby sealed the game when he returned a Syracuse punt 40 yards for a touchdown to make it 21–0 after three quarters.

Mark Weber gave the Orangemen their only points on his touchdown run after a 69-yard drive, but the two-point conversion failed on an incomplete pass. And that was the end of the scoring. Despite Syracuse's run attack, two fumbles by the backs and two passes that were intercepted doomed the Orange as Oklahoma won their fourth Orange Bowl in six seasons.

Aftermath※

In the following season, Syracuse went undefeated and "won the national title."

Statistics※

Source:

References※

This college football bowl article is: a stub. You can help XIV by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e