These two games took place in back-to-back seasons, as the 1973 Sugar Bowl was moved to the evening of Dec. 31 for television purposes. The 1975 Orange Bowl — which capped Alabama’s 1974 ...

While they would be undefeated, they played a weak schedule in 1973. Despite a blowout loss to Penn State, Maryland, the ACC champion, would likely get the Sugar Bowl bid over the unbeaten Bearcats.