Oregon vs. SMU
Saturday, January 1, 1949, Cotton Bowl Share
No. 8 SMU beat No. 10 Oregon 21–13. It was their first meeting; after it, SMU led the series 1–0.
FinalAttendance 69,000Referee: Abb Curtis (SWC; split crew: SWC, Pacific Coast)
MVPs Kyle Rote (SMU); Doak Walker (SMU); Brad Ecklund (Oregon); Norm Van Brocklin (Oregon)Wikipedia
On the newsreel
- THE COTTON BOWLDoak Walker and Kyle Rote of S.M.U. spark the Mustangs to a thrilling victory, as 68,000 fans see Southern Methodist upset the Oregon Webfoots by a score of 21-13
Universal Newsreel, National Archives (catalog record). Story titles and words as Universal’s release sheet gives them; the films themselves may still be under copyright, so we link to the record rather than show them.
Before kickoff
Our ratings going in
Our ratings (scores only)
SMU 63% to win. Elo’s favorite won.
The series
Every Oregon–SMU gameTied 1–1 in two meetings, counting the one since this game.
| 1963 | Oregon 21, SMU 14 | Sun Bowl |
| 1948 | SMU 21, Oregon 13 | Cotton Bowl |
Around this game
Oregon
- Next gameat Saint Mary’s (CA)Sept. 16, 1949
- SeasonOregon in 1948
- ProgramOregon history and records
SMU
- Next gamevs. Wake ForestSept. 24, 1949
- SeasonSMU in 1948
- ProgramSMU history and records