1975 NCAA Tournament
The 1975 Tournament was based on the final UPI rankings. Last year's runner up USC did not qualify. Last year's champion Ohio State made it to the final four before losing to Oklahoma 13-7. #10 Penn State upset #7 Texas 26-23 in overtime in the first round. #12 Texas A&M whipped favored #5 UCLA 38-14. The Elite 8 round was filled with tight games as #1 Oklahoma got by #8 Michigan 10-6, #3 Alabama edged #6 Arkansas 10-7, and #2 Arizona State beat #10 Penn State 14-3. Only #4 Ohio State's 28-0 blanking of Texas A&M wasn't close.
National Semi Final #1 (Ohio State Buckeyes @ Oklahoma Sooners)
December 20, 1975 @ Memorial Stadium, Temp 31, Cloudy, Wind 17 mph - slight crosswind
The defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes find themselves one win away from a return trip to the Championship game. The game started with an exchange of punts but then Oklahoma put together a long drive chewing up over six minutes of time. They moved deep into Ohio State territory and caught a break when facing 3rd and 7, Elvis Peacock rushed for the first down but fumbled. Fortunately for the Sooners the ball went out of bounds. Peacock carried again for three and Steve Davis for one. On 3rd and goal from the two, Billy Sims was stuffed for no gain. Tony DiRienzo came on and kicked a19yd field goal to put the Sooners up 3-0.
Ohio State again was forced to punt and as the 2nd quarter started the Sooners again went on a time consuming drive. They go 73 yards in 13 plays chewing almost another full six minutes of time off the clock. But again, they hit a wall inside the Buckeye ten yard line. DiRienzo kicks a 24yd field goal and it's 6-0 Sooners. The Buckeyes again can't get anything going and punt the ball back to the Sooners. This time, they don't take nearly as long to score. Davis pops free for a 30yd TD run and Oklahoma now has a 13-0 lead and they take that lead to the locker room. The Buckeyes got the ball to start the second half and had a nice drive going until Brian Baschnagel fumbled at the Sooners 23yd line. Jaime Thomas recovered for Oklahoma to thwart the drive. The middle portion of the 3rd quarter featured more turnovers as both Davis and Cornelius Greene threw interceptions. Finally Ohio State got a break late in the 3rd when Oklahoma punter Tinker Owens shanked a 27yd punt from their own 11yd line. The Buckeyes took over at the Sooner 38yd line and pounded the Sooners Defense with a large dose of Pete Johnson. It paid off as Greene was able to run in from 4yds out, cutting the Sooners lead to 13-7 as the game heads to the 4th quarter. In the fourth quarter, it was Oklahoma's outstanding ball control, time killing run game that was able to help them win the game. After the Buckeye touchdown they ran 10 plays for 4:49. They punted, but the Buckeyes went three and out. The Sooners then followed that with another 10 play drive for 5:59. That drive ended in a missed field goal by DiRienzo leaving the Buckeyes 3:16 on the clock and needing a touchdown to win. They reached their own 42yd line with 1:03 to play. On 2nd and 10, Greene's pass for Baschnagel was intercepted by Scott Hill, ending the Buckeyes chances. Oklahoma wins 13-7 advancing to the Championship game for the third time. MVP: Steve Davis, QB-Oklahoma: 12yds passing, 111yds rushing, 1 TD Oklahoma had 21 fist downs to Ohio State's 13 and led in time of possesion 34:48 to 25:12...Pete Johnson led the Buckeyes with 93yds rushing on 14 carries...Steve Davis led the Sooners ground game with 111yds and a TD on 16 carries...Oklahoma's Horace Ivory had 81yds rushing on just seven carries...Joe Washington added 69yd rushing for the Sooners...There were only four completed passes in the game...Cornelius Greene was 2 or 7 for 22yds and 2 INT...Davis was 2 of 11 for 12yds and an INT...Tim Fox had 12 tackles for the Buckeyes. |
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National Semi Final #2 (Alabama Crimson Tide @ Arizona St Sun Devils )
December 20, 1975 @ Sun Devil Stadium, Temp 52, Cloudy, Wind 11 mph - slight crosswind
Alabama came into the game looking for a shot to win their 3rd championship. But the surprising Sun Devils, the #2 seed in the tournament wanted a shot at their first.
The first half of the game was dominated by Arizona State's defense. They totally shut down Alabama. The Crimson Tide had eight possessions in the first half. The first six ended in punts (four of them were three and outs, two of the six ended in minus yardage) and the last two ended in fumbles. The Sun Devils took the lead on their fourth possession. They go 63yds in four plays. The touchdown coming on a long Dennis Sproul to John Jefferson 46yd TD pass. Kicker Dan Kush missed the extra point, so it was 6-0 Sun Devils. After an Alabama punt, Arizona State added to their lead with a 31yd field goal by Dan Kush. It stayed that way until very late in the first half. With Alabama basically running out the clock, Duffy Boles fumbled at the Tide's own 37yd line. Norm Ehaz recovered for Arizona State with just 29 seconds left in the half. Kush came on and kicked a 45yd field goal with just five seconds left and the Sun Devils took a 12-0 lead into the locker room. The second half began and nothing changed for Alabama. Their first three drives ended in three and outs and the fourth ended in a punt as well. So that's 12 possessions with seven three and outs. Fortunately for the Tide, Arizona State wasn't able to do anything either and the score remained close at 12-0 into the 4th quarter. Finally, Alabama began to move the ball. After pinning the Sun Devils back to their own one yard line, the Tide began a drive from the Arizona State 33yd line after a 32yd punt by Fred Mortensen. Alabama took advantage and found the end zone, but it did take them over five minutes to do so. Richard Todd scored on a 1yd sneak and with the extra point from Danny Ridgeway, the score was now 12-7 with 6:23 to play. As if feeling the pressure, on the very next play from scrimmage, Arizona State's Mortensen was in at Quarterback and he fumbled at their own 10yd line. The Sun Devil defense held strong and force the Tide to settle for a 22yd field goal by Ridgeway. It's now 12-10 with 4:39 to play. Arizona State got the ball back and picked up a few first downs before punting with 1:22 left in the game. Alabama started on their own 20yd line needing a field goal to win. They reached their own 40yd line before running into a 4th and 9. Todd's pass for Newsome fell incomplete and that was the game. Arizona State holds on to win 12-10 and reach their first ever Championship game. MVP: Conley Duncan, LB, Alabama: 12 Tackles, 2 Stuffs Despite Alabama's offensive woes early on they finished the game with more first downs, more yards and more time of possession than Arizona State...Johnny Davis led Alabama with 61yds rushing...Freddie Williams had 49yds rushing for the Sun Devils and Mark Lovett added 46yds...Todd was 5/10 for 17yds...Sproul was 4/13 for 64yds...Jefferson had two catches for 54yds and a TD...Alabama's Woodrow Lowe had 12 tackles with a sack. |
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National Championship (Arizona State Sun Devils v Oklahoma Sooners)
December 27, 1975 @ Tulane Stadium, Temp 65, Clear Skies, Wind 7 mph - head/tailwind
The stage was set at the Cotton Bowl as the #1 seed Oklahoma Sooners go for their first Championship. This is their third appearance in the Championship game, all coming in the last four years. The #2 Arizona State Sun Devils are making their first appearance in the Championship game.
The game started with some excitement right from the first snap. Oklahoma received the opening kick on their first play from scrimmage Horace Ivory carried for 15 yards and was stripped of the ball. The ball bounced back into Ivory's hands and he continued on 65 yards more. Giving Oklahoma a 1st and goal from the four yard line. Two plays later Jim Littrell found paydirt and it's a quick 7-0 lead for the Sooners. The teams then traded punts and then Arizona State struck with a big play. Dennis Sproul connected on a 64 yard TD pass to Larry Mucker, tying the game at 7-7. On Oklahoma's next drive, Tony DiRienzo missed on a long 54yd field goal try. However, the Sun Devils gave the ball back to the Sooners when Sproul dropped a snap and Daryl Hunt recovered for Oklahoma at the Arizona State 34yd line. The quarter ended with score still even at 7-7, but with the Sooners at the Sun Devil two yard line. On the first play of the 2nd quarter, Joe Washington scored from two yards out and the Sooners were now up 14-7. The Sun Devils got the ball and again turned it right back over to Oklahoma. Nate Wilson fumbled and Terry Peters recovered for the Sooners at the Sun Devil 29 yard line. The Sooners moved the ball to the eight yard line and on 4th and two decided to go for it instead of kick the field goal. Washington took the ball and scampered outside but the Sun Devil defense strung the play out for no gain, and gets the ball back for their offense. After a couple of punts, Oklahoma again had the ball, but Washington coughed up the ball on their own 39yd line. Tim Peterson recovered for the Sun Devils setting up the offense on the Sooners side of the field and 3:37 remaining in the half. They cashed in with a 36 yard field goal by Dan Kush. At the half, Oklahoma has a 14-10 lead. The Sun Devils received the ball to start the 2nd half and they went right down the field and got another field goal from Kush. The score is now 14-13 Sooners in front. On Oklahoma's first play of the 2nd half, Steve Davis was intercepted by Larry Gordon at the Sooners 20yd line. Bruce Hardy ran 19 yards down to the one yard line. On their third try from the one, Fred Mortensen tossed a 1yard TD pass to Bruce Hardy putting Arizona State on top 19-14. They decided to go for two. Ron Bonner tried to run in but was stopped short. On the Sooners next drive QB Steve Davis fumbled and Larry Gordon recovered for the Sun Devils at the Sooner 30yd line. Five plays later Nate Wilson ran in from 3yds out and Arizona State's lead was up to 26-14. The Sooners got the ball back and put together a 14 play drive, but on the 15th play, the first of the 4th quarter, Washington fumbled at the Sun Devil 36yd line. Dan Paschke recovered for Arizona State. It looked like the Sun Devils were going to score and possibly put the game away. Mortensen tossed a short pass to John Jefferson and Jefferson ran to the Sooner's 15yd line but was stripped of the ball. Obie Moore recovered for Oklahoma keeping their hopes alive. The Sooners moved down to the Arizona State 13yd line when Davis coughed the ball up again. Tim Peterson recovered for Arizona State at their 7yd line. Denying the Sooners yet again. That would be the closest Oklahoma would come again to scoring. Fittingly, their last possesion ended when Davis was sacked by Willie Scroggins and fumbled. Rob Peterson recovered for Arizona State, allowing Mortensen to come on and kneel down for the Championship. Arizona State wins 26-14 securing the 1975 tournament championship! MVP: Tim Peterson, LB, Arizona State: 13 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 2 Fumble Recoveries Six of Oklahoma's last eight possessions ended in turnovers. The other two being the end of the first half, and a turnover on downs...The Sooners had a 24-16 advantage in first downs...The Sooners fumbled the ball nine times, losing five of them...Arizona State fumbled the ball seven times, losing three...Freddie Williams led Arizona State with 40yds rushing...Horace Ivory led Oklahoma with 174yds rushing on 10 carries...Joe Wasington had 70yds and two fumbles for Oklahoma...Fred Mortensen was 8/12 for 102yds and a TD...Steve Davis was 5/11 for 28yds and an INT as well as being sacked three times and fumbling three times...Larry Mucker had four catches for 90yds...John Jefferson had four catches for 72 yards...John Harris had 15 tackles and Tim Peterson 13 tackles for Arizona State. |
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