Bowl Games of Ole Miss’ Past – Rebels Go Back to Back in 1961 Sugar Bowl

While Ole Miss may not be going bowling this season, the Rebels have a decorated history in some of College Football’s most famous bowl games. From going to their first bowl game in 1936 to the Sugar Bowl victory in 2015, the Rebels rank 10th in the NCAA in bowl victories with 23. The Rebels have won games and set records that will stand the test of time. From Conerly to Manning and Vaught to Freeze, Ole Miss legends have made names for themselves in bowl games over the years. So, instead of an actual bowl this year, let us take you back to some of the most memorable bowl victories in Ole Miss history.

1961 Sugar Bowl Program – Courtesy of AllStateSugarBowl.org

After defeating the LSU Tigers in the Sugar Bowl to end the 1959 season, the Rebels weren’t going to settle for anything less the following year. The Rebels ended the regular season with a record of 10-0-1 and earned yet another berth in the Sugar Bowl. A matchup with the Rice Owls awaited the Rebels in New Orleans. 

The Rebels were led by Jake Gibbs, who also helped guide the Ole Miss Baseball team to their first SEC championship in 1959. Gibbs broke the scoreless tie early in the first quarter with an 8-yard TD run, and the Rebels defense went to work shutting down the Owls offense. The Owl defense refused to yield as well, keeping the Rebels out of the end zone for the remainder of the first half. 

To start the second half, Rice drove the ball down the field with an 18-play drive resulting in an Owl TD. A missed extra point saw the Rebels hanging on to a 1-point, 7-6 lead. A tightly contested game, Rice was able to outgain the Rebels 281 to 186, but the Rebel defense was able to nab four interceptions to put a stop to the Owls’ threats. A 3-yard TD run in the 4th quarter put the Rebels on top 14-6, and they held on and defended their Sugar Bowl Championship from the year before. 

Jake Gibbs was named Sugar Bowl MVP, SEC player of the year and an All-American. The Rebels were named National Champions by the Football Writers Association of America, and became the first SEC team to be awarded the Grantland Rice Award. Ole Miss was on top of the College Football world for the second year in a row, and it wouldn’t be long before they claimed their third national title. In 1962, the Rebels faced Arkansas in the 29th annual Sugar Bowl. 

Steven Gagliano is a writer for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at steven.gagliano@hottytoddy.com. 

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