| Game Name: | Sugar Bowl |
| Date Game Played: | January 1 |
| Year Game Played: | 1972 |
| Football Season: | 1971 |
| Home Name Short: | Auburn |
| Home Nickname: | Tigers |
| Home Record: | 9–1 |
| Home Rank Ap: | 5 |
| Home Rank Coaches: | 5 |
| Home 1Q: | 0 |
| Home 2Q: | 0 |
| Home 3Q: | 7 |
| Home 4Q: | 15 |
| Mvp: | Jack Mildren (Oklahoma QB) |
| Visitor Name Short: | Oklahoma |
| Visitor Nickname: | Sooners |
| Visitor Record: | 10–1 |
| Visitor Rank Ap: | 3 |
| Visitor Rank Coaches: | 3 |
| Visitor 1Q: | 19 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 12 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 3 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 6 |
| Type: | bg |
| Referee: | James M. Artley (SEC) (split crew: SEC, Big 8) |
| Attendance: | 84,031 |
| Odds: | Oklahoma by 10 points [1] |
| Different Next: | 1972 (Dec.) |
The 1972 Sugar Bowl (January) was the 38th edition of the college football bowl game, played at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday, January 1. It featured the third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners of the Big Eight Conference and the #5 Auburn Tigers of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The favored Sooners won 40–22.
This was the last Sugar Bowl played in January until 1977, as it moved to New Year's Eve night for the next four editions.
See main article: 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Although the runner-up in their respective conferences, both teams were ranked in the top five in the polls, as this game was a tale of duality. Both teams averaged over 300 yards on the season, though Oklahoma's record setting 566 yards a game was more notable than Auburn's 393. Both teams started the season 9–0, with both teams losing late in the season to their respective arch-rivals, who were likewise undefeated and untied.
See main article: 1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team.
On Thanksgiving day, Oklahoma lost a late lead to visiting #1 Nebraska in a memorable game, and fell from second to third in the rankings. This was the Sooners' fourth appearance in the Sugar Bowl, but first since 1951.
See main article: 1971 Auburn Tigers football team. Auburn lost 31–7 to Alabama in late November; they remained at fifth in the rankings and were invited to their first Sugar Bowl. Alabama and Nebraska matched up in the Orange Bowl for the national championship, essentially making this a runner-up game.[2]
Televised by ABC, the kickoff was in the morning at
Though he threw only four passes (with one completion), Oklahoma quarterback Jack Mildren used his legs to help win the game and the MVP award, running thirty times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Leon Crosswhite helped start the scoring with a touchdown run on OU's first drive. Mildren scored three straight touchdown runs to make it 25–0 by the second quarter and after a punt return touchdown by Joe Wylie, it was
Sooner kicker John Carroll made a 53-yard field goal before Auburn finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown run by fullback Harry Unger, and the score was after three quarters. The Sooners responded as halfback Greg Pruitt made it an even forty points, and Auburn then scored two late touchdowns. The first was a pass from Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan to Sandy Cannon with less than four minutes remaining, and Unger added another on the ground to complete the scoring at Oklahoma had more yards, fewer turnovers (2 to 3), and more first downs, and won their first Sugar Bowl
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
| Statistics | Oklahoma | Auburn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 28 | 15 | |
| Rushes–Yards | 87–439 | 19–40 | |
| Yards Passing | 11 | 250 | |
| Passes | 1–4–0 | 20–45–2 | |
| Total Yards | 91–450 | 64–290 | |
| Punts-Average | 5–35.4 | 5–48.6 | |
| Fumbles–Lost | 5–2 | 5–1 | |
| Turnovers< | -- by--> | 2 | 3 |
| Penalties–Yards | 3–12 | 0–0 |
Oklahoma moved up to second in the final AP poll, followed by Colorado, the only time the top three teams were from the same conference. to fourth and Auburn dropped
The Sooners returned to the Sugar Bowl in December and defeated Penn State, becoming the only school to win the same bowl game twice in a calendar year. Auburn waited twelve years for their next Sugar Bowl, a victory over Michigan.
Ella Fitzgerald, who performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the Sugar Bowl, was part of the Super Bowl VI halftime show at Tulane Stadium fifteen days later.