Seasons 1972 Bowls & playoff ← Week 14 1972: Bowls & playoff 11 games. Seven ranked teams lost, one to an unranked team. Six games matched two ranked teams. Winners are listed first; numbers before names are AP ranks going in.
The week in review Ranked against ranked Jan 1, 1973 1 USC 42,3 Ohio State 17Rose Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1972 2 Oklahoma 14,5 Penn State 0Sugar Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1973 7 Texas 17,4 Alabama 13upset Cotton Bowl Box score Dec 30, 1972 6 Auburn 24,13 Colorado 3Gator Bowl Box score Dec 30, 1972 11 Tennessee 24,10 LSU 17upset Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1973 9 Nebraska 40,12 Notre Dame 6Orange Bowl Box score
Upsets A ranked team beaten as the betting favorite, or, where no line is on file, by an unranked or lower-ranked team.
FBS vs. FBS Dec 18, 1972 Georgia Tech 31,Iowa State 30Liberty Bowl Box score Dec 23, 1972 15 Arizona State 49,Missouri 35Fiesta Bowl Box score Dec 29, 1972 NC State 49,18 West Virginia 13upset Peach Bowl Box score Dec 29, 1972 Tampa 21,Kent State 18Tangerine Bowl Box score Dec 30, 1972 6 Auburn 24,13 Colorado 3Gator Bowl Box score Dec 30, 1972 16 North Carolina 32,Texas Tech 28Sun Bowl Box score Dec 30, 1972 11 Tennessee 24,10 LSU 17upset Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1972 2 Oklahoma 14,5 Penn State 0Sugar Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1973 9 Nebraska 40,12 Notre Dame 6Orange Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1973 1 USC 42,3 Ohio State 17Rose Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1973 7 Texas 17,4 Alabama 13upset Cotton Bowl Box score