Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3
Arkansas, after a dismal start, won six of its final seven games during the 2001 season to wrap up its second Cotton Bowl berth under coach Houston Nutt. The opponent was defending national champion Oklahoma, which finished 10-2 in the regular season under coach Bob Stoops.
The Sooners had dominated opponents with their defense throughout the 2001 season and it was no different in the Cotton Bowl. Safety Roy Williams, linebacker Rocky Calmus and the rest of the Sooners harassed Arkansas on a cold day, keeping the Razorbacks out of the end zone and limiting them to 50 yards (the third-lowest offensive total in Cotton Bowl history).
Oklahoma got the only points it needed in the first quarter, when quarterback Nate Hybl capped a 13-play, 63-yard drive with a one-yard yard touchdown run. The Sooners tacked on a field goal in the third quarter.
Arkansas’ only points came in the fourth quarter, when place kicker Brennan O’Donohoe made a 32-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-3. The Razorbacks had chances to tie the game late, but Calmus forced a fumble by Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones with less than two minutes remaining to seal the victory for Oklahoma.
Jones and quarterback Zak Clark combined to complete 2 of 13 passes for 13 yards and were sacked a Cotton Bowl record nine times. Williams was named the defensive MVP after collecting six tackles, three for losses. Running back Quentin Griffin was named offensive MVP, rushing for 56 yards and catching nine passes for 32 more.
— Sources: Arkansas and the Cotton Bowl