| Game Name: | Cotton Bowl Classic |
| Subheader: | 37th Cotton Bowl Classic |
| Date Game Played: | January 1 |
| Year Game Played: | 1973 |
| Football Season: | 1972 |
| Stadium: | Cotton Bowl |
| City: | Dallas, Texas |
| Visitor School: | University of Texas |
| Visitor Name Short: | Texas |
| Visitor Nickname: | Longhorns |
| Visitor Record: | 9–1 |
| Visitor Rank Ap: | 7 |
| Visitor Rank Coaches: | 7 |
| Visitor Coach: | Darrell Royal |
| Visitor Conference: | SWC |
| Visitor 1Q: | 0 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 3 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 7 |
| Home School: | University of Alabama |
| Home Name Short: | Alabama |
| Home Nickname: | Crimson Tide |
| Home Record: | 10–1 |
| Home Rank Ap: | 4 |
| Home Rank Coaches: | 4 |
| Home Coach: | Bear Bryant |
| Home Conference: | SEC |
| Home 1Q: | 10 |
| Home 2Q: | 3 |
| Home 3Q: | 0 |
| Home 4Q: | 0 |
| Mvp: | LB Randy Braband (Texas) QB Alan Lowry (Texas) |
| Referee: | James Artley (SEC; split crew: SEC, SWC) |
| Attendance: | 72,000 |
| Us Network: | CBS |
| Us Announcers: | Lindsey Nelson, Tom Brookshier and Frank Glieber |
The 1973 Cotton Bowl Classic, part of the 1972 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1973, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the Texas Longhorns, representing the Southwest Conference (SWC). Texas won the game by a final score of 17–13.
See also: 1972 Alabama Crimson Tide football team. The 1972 Alabama squad finished the regular season with a 10–1 record and as conference champions. Their only loss came against Auburn in the Iron Bowl by a final score of 17–16 in the famous Punt Bama Punt game.[1] Following their victory over, university officials announced they accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl.[2] The appearance marked the fourth for Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, their 26th overall bowl game appearance.[2]
See also: 1972 Texas Longhorns football team. The 1972 Texas squad finished the regular season with a 9–1 record. Their only loss came against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry by a final score of 27–0. Following their victory over TCU, university officials announced they accepted an invitation to play in the Cotton Bowl.[2] The appearance marked the fourteenth for Texas in the Cotton Bowl, their 20th overall bowl game appearance and their fifth straight Cotton Bowl appearance after winning their fifth straight Southwest Conference championship by going undefeated in conference play.
Alabama opened the game by going up 10–0 as a result of a pair of Alan Lowry interceptions.[3] [4] Steve Wade made both interceptions for the Crimson Tide, and the first resulted in a 50-yard Greg Gantt field goal and the second a 31-yard Wilbur Jackson touchdown.[3] After trading field goals in the second quarter, Alabama took a 13–3 lead at the half.[3] [4] In the second half, the Texas defense shutout the Alabama offense, and a pair of rushing touchdowns from Longhorn quarterback Alan Lowry from three and 34-yards sealed the 17–13 Texas victory.[3] [4]