| Game Name: | Cotton Bowl Classic |
| Subheader: | 20th Cotton Bowl Classic |
| Date Game Played: | January 2 |
| Year Game Played: | 1956 |
| Football Season: | 1955 |
| Home Name Short: | TCU |
| Home Nickname: | Horned Frogs |
| Home Record: | 9–1 |
| Home Rank Ap: | 6 |
| Home Rank Coaches: | 5 |
| Home 1Q: | 7 |
| Home 2Q: | 6 |
| Home 3Q: | 0 |
| Home 4Q: | 0 |
| Visitor Name Short: | Ole Miss |
| Visitor Nickname: | Rebels |
| Visitor Record: | 9–1 |
| Visitor Rank Ap: | 10 |
| Visitor Rank Coaches: | 9 |
| Visitor 1Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 7 |
| Mvp: | Eagle Day(Ole Miss QB) Buddy Alliston (Ole Miss G) |
| Type: | bg |
| Referee: | Cliff Shaw (SWC; split crew: SWC, SEC) |
| Attendance: | 75,500 |
| Odds: | TCU [1] |
The 1956 Cotton Bowl Classic was the twentieth edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, January 2. Part of the 1955–56 bowl game season, it matched the sixth-ranked TCU Horned Frogs of the Southwest Conference (SWC) and the #10 Ole Miss Rebels of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Underdog Ole Miss rallied to win by a point, 14–13.[2] [3]
New Year's Day was on Sunday in 1956; the major bowl games were played the following day.
See main article: 1955 college football season. Both teams had 9–1 records.
See main article: 1955 TCU Horned Frogs football team. TCU hadn't been to a bowl game since the Cotton Bowl four years earlier.
See main article: 1955 Ole Miss Rebels football team. Ole Miss was trying to win their first bowl game since the 1948 Delta Bowl, which was also against TCU.
On the game's first play, TCU quarterback and returner Chuck Curtis injured his shoulder and broke two ribs. He sat out the rest of the game and was replaced by Dick Finney, who went one for three passing for thirteen yards and rushed for five yards. Halfback Jim Swink helped carry TCU to with two rushing touchdowns and finished with 107 yards. On the second extra point attempt by TCU, Harold Pollard missed after having to try again due to a penalty on TCU. Down 13–0, Ole Miss quarterback Eagle Day and running back Paige Cothren led the team back, with Cotheren's 3-yard run narrowing the lead to six at halftime.
The second half had only one score, but it was crucial. With 9:34 to play, Ole Miss started their drive after a punt. And with 4:22 left, the Rebels scored on a Billy Lott touchdown run. The extra point was converted by Cothren, as Mississippi held on to win their first bowl game since 1948.[2] [3]
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
No scoringFourth quarter
| Statistics | TCU | Ole Miss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 11 | 12 | |
| Yards Rushing | 233 | 92 | |
| Yards Passing | 20 | 137 | |
| Total Yards | 253 | 229 | |
| Punts-Average | 5–28.8 | 6–42.7 | |
| Fumbles-Lost | 2–1 | 1–1 | |
| Interceptions | 2 | 0 | |
| Penalties-Yards | 8–80 | 6–80 |