An Instant Classic: The 1969 Ole Miss vs. Alabama Shootout

October 4, 1969, delivered one of the most electric and consequential football games of its era, as the unranked (later No. 20) Ole Miss Rebels, led by quarterback Archie Manning, faced the No. 15 Alabama Crimson Tide in a nationally televised, primetime battle at Legion Field in Birmingham. This game, which would set the stage for college football’s passing revolution, became an iconic offensive shootout—a rarity in the defense-dominated 1960s SEC.

MilnerPassIncloplete 05 Oct 1969, Sun Corpus Christi Times (Corpus Christi, Texas) Newspapers.com

The game quickly turned into a duel between two outstanding quarterbacks: Ole Miss’s junior sensation, Archie Manning, and Alabama’s Scott Hunter. Manning’s performance was legendary, as he threw for 436 yards and two touchdown passes while also rushing for 104 yards and three touchdowns. His remarkable 540 total yards set an SEC single-game record that stood for over four decades.

However, it was the Crimson Tide that secured the thrilling 33-32 victory. Alabama quarterback Scott Hunter countered Manning’s brilliance, completing 22 of 29 passes for 300 yards and the game-winning touchdown. That score came with 3:42 left in the fourth quarter—an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass to George Ranager. The two teams combined for 842 yards of total offense, setting multiple NCAA and SEC records.

More than just a win for Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s Tide, the contest is remembered as a pioneering moment in the sport’s history, showcasing an unprecedented aerial attack to a national audience. Though a heartbreaker for Ole Miss, the game immortalized Archie Manning’s mesmerizing talent and remains one of the greatest college football games ever played.