For the first time in 37 years, the LSU football team played in consecutive New Year’s Day bowl games, and just like its regular season, big plays ended a chance at the victory.
The Tigers jumped out on top of the Texas Longhorns 17-7 early in the second quarter with ball control offense and a dominating defense. At that point, the Longhorns’ lone score was a 54-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
But a series of big plays by Texas tallied 28 straight points, and the Longhorns went up 35-17. A late John Corbello field goal made the final score 35-20.     
The Longhorns scored on short drives of 40, 45 and 54 seconds thanks to the play of wide receiver Roy Williams, who finished the game with four catches for 142 yards and a receiving touchdown. Williams also had a 39-yard rushing touchdown on an end-around.
In a game that seemed to be a microcosm of the regular season, the Tigers started out great, but faltered toward the end. The loss terminated a five-game bowl win streak dating back to the 1995 Independence Bowl win against a Nick Saban-led Michigan State team.
The Tigers finished their third year under the guidance of Saban with an 8-5 record and a share of the Southeastern Conference Western Division title.