| Year Game Played: | 1965 |
| Game Name: | Sugar Bowl |
| Subheader: | 31st edition |
| Football Season: | 1964 |
| Visitor Name Short: | LSU |
| Visitor Nickname: | Tigers |
| Visitor School: | Louisiana State University |
| Visitor Record: | 7–2–1 |
| Visitor Conference: | SEC |
| Visitor Coach: | Charles McClendon |
| Visitor Rank Ap: | 7 |
| Visitor Rank Coaches: | 7 |
| Visitor 1Q: | 2 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 8 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 3 |
| Home Name Short: | Syracuse |
| Home Nickname: | Orangemen |
| Home School: | Syracuse University |
| Home Record: | 7–3 |
| Home Conference: | Independent |
| Home Coach: | Ben Schwartzwalder |
| Home Rank Ap: | NR |
| Home Rank Coaches: | 12 |
| Home 1Q: | 10 |
| Home 2Q: | 0 |
| Home 3Q: | 0 |
| Home 4Q: | 0 |
| Date Game Played: | January 1 |
| Stadium: | Tulane Stadium |
| City: | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Odds: | LSU by 5½ points[1] [2] |
| Referee: | Francis P. Brennan (ECAC) (split crew between ECAC & SEC) |
| Attendance: | 65,000 |
| Us Network: | NBC |
| Us Announcers Link: | List of announcers of major college bowl games |
| Us Announcers: | Bill Flemming, Terry Brennan |
The 1965 Sugar Bowl was the 31st edition of the college football bowl game, played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Friday, January 1. Part of the 1964–65 bowl season, it matched the seventh-ranked LSU Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the unranked independent Syracuse Orangemen.[1] [2] Favored LSU rallied in the second half to win, 13–10.[3] [4] The game is notable for being the first time a racially integrated team played in the Sugar Bowl since the 1956 Sugar Bowl. Syracuse had two black players, Jim Nance and Floyd Little.
See main article: 1964 NCAA University Division football season.
See main article: 1964 LSU Tigers football team.
See main article: 1964 Syracuse Orangemen football team.
Syracuse opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 23-yard Roger Smith field goal. When Syracuse got the ball next, LSU's defense forced a safety, as lineman George Rice tackled halfback Floyd Little in the end zone, making it 3–2. Syracuse's Bradlee Clarke returned a blocked punt 28 yards for a touchdown, and after a scoreless second quarter, Syracuse led 10–2 at halftime.
In the third quarter, LSU reserve quarterback Billy Ezell threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Doug Moreau, and converted for two points on a pass play to tie the game at ten. With under four minutes remaining, Moreau kicked a 28-yard field goal to put LSU ahead, 13–10, which was the final score, and he was named Sugar Bowl MVP.[3] [4]
First quarter
Second quarter
No scoringThird quarter
Fourth quarter
| Statistics | LSU | Syracuse | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First downs | 11 | 10 | |
| Rushing | 46–161 | 35–151 | |
| Passing | 6–15–1 | 8–20–1 | |
| Passing yards | 114 | 52 | |
| Total offense | 61–275 | 55–203 | |
| Punts–avg. | 9–36.2 | 6–37.5 | |
| Fumbles–lost | 4–0 | 3–1 | |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 | |
| Penalties–yards | 4–46 | 5–55 |