2002 Cotton Bowl Classic

College football game
2002 SBC Cotton Bowl Classic
66th Cotton Bowl Classic
Oklahoma Sooners Arkansas Razorbacks
(10–2) (7–4)
Big 12 SEC
10 3
Head coach: 
Bob Stoops
Head coach: 
Houston Nutt
APCoachesBCS
101011
1234 Total
Oklahoma 7030 10
Arkansas 0003 3
DateJanuary 1, 2002
Season2001
StadiumCotton Bowl
LocationDallas, Texas
MVPRB Quentin Griffin (Oklahoma)
S Roy Williams (Oklahoma)
RefereeDennis Lipski (Big Ten)
Attendance72,955
United States TV coverage
NetworkFox
AnnouncersThom Brennaman, Tim Green, Brian Baldinger and Dave Lapham
Cotton Bowl Classic
 < 2001  2003

The 2002 Cotton Bowl Classic matched the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Background

This was the Sooners first Cotton Bowl Classic appearance ever. The Sooners finished 2nd in the Big 12 South after two crucial losses to Nebraska and Oklahoma State. This was the first appearance for the Razorbacks since 2000. Despite finishing 5th in the SEC West, they were invited to this game.

Game summary

Arkansas QBs were sacked nine times by Oklahoma, a school record and tying a Cotton Bowl Classic record. Arkansas could manage only 50 yards of total offense, and one Brennan O'Donohoe field goal late in the game. Oklahoma QB Nate Hybl ran in from one yard out for the only touchdown of the game. Sooner Rocky Calmus, the Butkus Award winner and Nagurski, Bednarik, and Lombardi finalist had nine tackles and a fumble recovery in the effort. Razorback coach Houston Nutt said, "[The Oklahoma defense is] the best I've seen in 15 years.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "CNNSI.com - College Football - Sooner defense sytmies Arkansas - Wednesday January 02, 2002 01:25 PM". Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
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2001–02 NCAA football bowl game season
  • All-Star Games: East–West Shrine Game (Jan. 12)
  • Senior Bowl (Jan. 26)
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Cotton Bowl Classic
History & conference tie-ins
Games
Notes
There was a Cotton Bowl Classic in January and December in 1966, 2015, 2017, 2023, 2025.
The 2015 (December), 2018, 2021, and 2025 (January) editions were College Football Playoff semifinals.
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Arkansas Razorbacks bowl games
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Oklahoma Sooners bowl games

# denotes national championship game; † denotes College Football Playoff semifinal game


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