26 24 2 2 7 12 | 3 3 Oklahoma 7 12 0 | |
The 1968 Orange Bowl was an American college football bowl game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners.
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Background
Oklahoma was champion of the Big Eight Conference after going a perfect 7-0-0 in conference play, their first conference title since 1962 and first Orange Bowl since 1963. After losing to UCLA in the first game of the season, the Volunteers won nine consecutive games. Tennessee was also perfect in conference play as they were champion of the Southeastern Conference for the first time since 1956, though they did not get to play #1 USC in the Rose Bowl that year, instead it went to #4 Indiana, the Big Ten co-champion, due to the Pac-8-Big Ten contract. It was their first Orange Bowl since 1947.
Game summary
Bob Warmack gave the Sooners a 7-0 lead on his touchdown run in the first quarter. He added in a touchdown pass and Steve Owens scored a touchdown run to make it 19-0 at halftime. Jimmy Glover returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown to make it 19-7. A touchdown run by Fulton made it 19-14. Oklahoma made it 26-14 on Bob Stephenson's interceptions return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Karl Kremser's field goal from 26 yards made it 26-17, and Dewey Warren's touchdown plunge made it 26-24 with the game being close to being over. Oklahoma was at their own 43 yard line with 1:54 to go in the game. Fairbanks decided to go for the first down despite only leading by 2. Steve Owens was given the ball, but he was stopped by linebacker Jack Reynolds, giving the ball back to the Volunteers. With seven seconds to go in the game, Tennessee sent Karl Kremser to kick a 43-yard field goal. However the kick sailed wide right, giving Oklahoma the win.
Aftermath
The Volunteers did not return to the Orange Bowl until 1998. Oklahoma returned to the Orange Bowl in 1976.