Arkansas 10, Nebraska 7
Arkansas went 10-0 during the regular season in 1964, wrapping up the Southwest Conference championship behind a defense that recorded five consecutive shutouts. The reward: Arkansas had a national championship within reach when it faced Nebraska in the 1965 Cotton Bowl.
The Razorbacks entered the game with three straight losses in bowls and were winless in Dallas. But the Razorbacks had no trouble taking an early lead on Tom McKnelly’s 31-yard field goal in the first quarter.
Nebraska surprised Arkansas a little later, though, taking the lead on halfback Harry Wilson’s one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. It was the first points the Razorbacks had allowed since Oct. 17.
Nebraska remained in front throughout most of the second half. But with time winding down, quarterback Fred Marshall led the Razorbacks on an 80-yard drive that ended with Bobby Burnett’s three-yard touchdown run.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Arkansas’ top-ranked defense took care of the rest, dropping Nebraska quarterback Frank Churchich twice on the final drive to end the game and secure the most important win in school history. Marshall was named the game’s outstanding back, while Arkansas’ Ronnie Caveness earned outstanding lineman of the game honors.
Alabama, which had been elected as the AP and UPI champion after the regular season, was upset by Texas in the Orange Bowl a few hours later. So the Razorbacks remained the nation’s only undefeated team and were named the Football Writers Association of America’s champion.
— Source: Arkansas and the Cotton Bowl