1978 Sugar Bowl

1978 Sugar Bowl
44th edition
Ohio State Buckeyes Alabama Crimson Tide
(9–2) (10–1)
Big Ten SEC
6 35
Head coach: 
Woody Hayes		 Head coach: 
Bear Bryant
APCoaches
98
APCoaches
33
1234 Total
Ohio State 0006 6
Alabama 013814 35
DateJanuary 2, 1978
Season1977
StadiumLouisiana Superdome
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
MVPJeff Rutledge (Alabama QB)
FavoriteAlabama by 1 point[1][2]
RefereePercy Penn (SWC)
Attendance76,811
United States TV coverage
NetworkABC
AnnouncersKeith Jackson and Ara Parseghian
Sugar Bowl
 < 1977  1979 > 

The 1978 Sugar Bowl was the 44th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 2. Part of the 1977–78 bowl game season, it matched the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the #9 Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference.[3][4]

The teams were led by their respective hall of fame head coaches, Bear Bryant and Woody Hayes,[5] who were the winningest active coaches. Slightly favored,[1][2] Alabama won in a rout, 35–6.[4][6]

New Year's Day was on Sunday in 1978, and the major college bowl games were played the following day.

  1. ^ a b Browning, Al (January 2, 1978). "Bryant: Worthy of being here?". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). p. 11.
  2. ^ a b Gugger, John (January 2, 1978). "Emotion is lacking in Sugar Bowl game". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). p. 23.
  3. ^ "Hungry Tide wanted Sugar more and got it easily". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. January 3, 1978. p. 2C.
  4. ^ a b Putnam, Pat (January 9, 1978). "The Bear and Bama cast their ballot". Sports Illustrated. p. 10.
  5. ^ "Coaches sweet on Sugar". Milwaukee Sentinel. wire services. January 2, 1978. p. 5, part 2.
  6. ^ "Buckeyes blown out in 35-6 'Bama rout". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 3, 1978. p. 20.