By Darin The Long Road to Undefeated Glory
The 1969 Texas Longhorns entered the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 1970, with more than just a perfect season on the line—they were playing to confirm history. Just a month earlier, Texas had triumphed in the legendary "Game of the Century" against Arkansas. The subsequent victory had prompted President Richard Nixon to proclaim the Longhorns the National Champions. Now, they just had to finish the job against the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
This matchup was monumental in several ways. The Irish, known for their traditional avoidance of bowl games, were participating in only their second postseason contest ever, making them a dangerous, hungry opponent for the undefeated No. 1 Longhorns.
The game lived up to its high billing, becoming a four-quarter slugfest. Texas struggled to put the resilient Irish away, finding themselves trailing late in the final period. With the national title hanging in the balance, Texas mounted a historic, sustained drive that defined their season.
Article from Jan 2, 1970 San Antonio Express-News (San Antonio, Texas)
It was a grueling 17-play march down the field, a testament to the Longhorns' toughness and resolve. The drive included not one, but two crucial fourth-down conversions to keep the hope alive and their championship dreams intact.
Finally, with only 1:08 remaining on the clock, running back Billy Dale plunged into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run. The final score stood: Texas 21, Notre Dame 17. The victory affirmed their 11-0 perfect season and validated President Nixon’s declaration, officially sealing the 1969 National Championship for the Texas Longhorns.
Conclusion
The 1970 Cotton Bowl serves as a powerful reminder that even after the fanfare of a "Game of the Century," a championship must be won until the very last snap. Texas's clutch performance against a rarely seen Notre Dame bowl team cemented the legacy of Darrell Royal’s squad as one of the greatest in college football history. Their dramatic final drive remains the perfect exclamation point on a perfect season.
