It was promoted as a contest pitting two of college football’s greatest coaches. Unfortunately for Ohio State, only one of them brought a great team to this game and it wasn’t the Big Ten co-champion Buckeyes.

Coach Bear Bryant’s squad broke away from a scoreless first quarter to take a 13-0 halftime lead. OSU’s only points came on a 38-yard pass from Rod Gerald to Jim Harrell early in the fourth period. But Alabama quarterback Jeff Rutledge guided his squad to two more touchdown drives to clinch the victory.

Rutledge was 8-of-11 for 103 yards and two TDs to win the game’s MVP award. The Tide finished No. 2 in the national polls, while OSU was No. 11 in the AP rankings.