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The Cotton Bowl made its debut in 1937, courtesy of Texas oil tycoon J. Curtis Sanford, who personally funded the game. The inaugural clash saw TCU emerging victorious over Marquette with a score of 16-6. Subsequent years witnessed thrilling matchups, showcasing premier quarterbacks and memorable plays.
Throughout its existence, the Cotton Bowl featured the Southwest Conference winner until 1996, after which it hosted teams from the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12. In 2014, the Cotton Bowl Classic became part of the College Football Playoff, rotating as a host for national semifinals every three years.
Notable moments etched in Cotton Bowl history include the 1954 game's unusual play, where Dickey Maegle of Rice was tackled by Tommy Lewis of Alabama even though Maegle was already down. The 1961 edition witnessed Ernie Davis's stellar performance, securing a national championship for Syracuse.
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The Cotton Bowl's role in the College Football Playoff, as one of six bowls, was solidified in 2012. Its place in the New Year's Six lineup, alongside bowls like the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl, further heightened its significance.
Let's delve into the annals of Cotton Bowl history, exploring its inception, notable moments, and a comprehensive list of winners from 1937 to the present day.
Cotton Bowl results and winners from 1937 to today:
- 1937 TCU
- 1938 Rice
- 1939 Saint Mary's (Calif.)
- 1940 Clemson
- 1941 Texas A&M
- 1942 Alabama
- 1943 Texas
- 1944 Texas
- 1945 Oklahoma A&M
- 1946 Texas
- 1947 LSU / Arkansas (tie)
- 1948 SMU / Penn State (tie)
- 1949 SMU
- 1950 Rice
- 1951 Tennessee
- 1952 Kentucky
- 1953 Texas
- 1954 Rice
- 1955 Georgia Tech
- 1956 Ole Miss
- 1957 TCU
- 1958 Navy
- 1959 TCU / Air Force (tie)
- 1960 Syracuse
- 1961 Duke
- 1962 Texas
- 1963 LSU
- 1964 Texas
- 1965 Arkansas
- 1966 LSU
- 1966 * Georgia
- 1968 Texas A&M
- 1969 Texas
- 1970 Texas
- 1971 Notre Dame
- 1972 Penn State
- 1973 Texas
- 1974 Nebraska
- 1975 Penn State
- 1976 Arkansas
- 1977 Houston
- 1978 Notre Dame
- 1979 Notre Dame
- 1980 Houston
- 1981 Alabama
- 1982 Texas
- 1983 SMU
- 1984 Georgia
- 1985 Boston College
- 1986 Texas A&M
- 1987 Ohio State
- 1988 Texas A&M
- 1989 UCLA
- 1990 Tennessee
- 1991 Miami
- 1992 Florida State
- 1993 Notre Dame
- 1994 Notre Dame
- 1995 USC
- 1996 Colorado
- 1997 BYU
- 1998 UCLA
- 1999 Texas
- 2000 Arkansas
- 2001 Kansas State
- 2002 Oklahoma
- 2003 Texas
- 2004 Ole Miss
- 2005 Tennessee
- 2006 Alabama
- 2007 Auburn
- 2008 Missouri
- 2009 Ole Miss
- 2010 Ole Miss
- 2011 LSU
- 2012 Arkansas
- 2013 Texas A&M
- 2014 Missouri
- 2015 Michigan State
- 2015 Alabama
- 2017 Wisconsin
- 2018 Ohio State
- 2019 Clemson
- 2020 Penn State
- 2021 Oklahoma
- 2022 Alabama
- 2023 Tulane
- 2024 Missouri
- 2025 Ohio State