2006 Cotton Bowl Classic

2006 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic
70th Cotton Bowl Classic
2006 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic logo
Texas Tech Red Raiders Alabama Crimson Tide (9–2) (9–2 [n 1]) Big 12 SEC 10 13 Head coach:  Mike Leach Head coach:  Mike Shula AP Coaches BCS 18 15 15 AP Coaches BCS 13 13 13
1 2 3 4 Total Texas Tech 3 0 0 7 10 Alabama 7 0 3 3 13
Date	January 2, 2006
Season	2005
Stadium	Cotton Bowl
Location	Dallas, Texas
MVP	QB Brodie Croyle (Alabama) LB DeMeco Ryans (Alabama)
Referee	Terry Leyden (Mtn. West)
Payout	US$2,850,000 per team[1]
United States TV coverage
Network	FOX
Cotton Bowl Classic  < 2005  2007 >

The 2006 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic was held on January 2, 2006, in Dallas, Texas at the Cotton Bowl. The game featured the Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference.

During the 2005 season, Alabama — led by quarterback Brodie Croyle — earned a 9–2 regular season record (all nine wins were later vacated by the NCAA due to violations).^[2] Following a 9–0 start, the Crimson Tide's two losses came to SEC West rivals LSU and Auburn.

Texas Tech — led by quarterback Cody Hodges — also suffered two defeats during their season, including a 52–17 defeat to eventual national champion Texas and a 24–17 loss at Oklahoma State.

In 2009, the NCAA vacated Alabama's Cotton Bowl win due to infractions committed during the season.^[2]

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