The Sugar Bowl, a New Orleans staple since its inception in 1935, remains one of college football’s most prestigious postseason events. Initially inspired by Fred Digby, a sports editor for the New Orleans Item, the Sugar Bowl has showcased historic games and unforgettable moments for nearly a century.
Since its debut with Tulane’s 20-14 victory over Temple, the bowl has seen many of college football’s greatest teams and players. Notably, it has a strong SEC connection, hosting a team from the conference almost every year from 1950 to 1995. In recent years, the Sugar Bowl has become a key part of the College Football Playoff rotation.
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Here’s the full list of champions by year:
1930s:
1935: Tulane 20, Temple 14
1936: TCU 3, LSU 2
1937: Santa Clara 21, LSU 14
1938: Santa Clara 6, LSU 0
1939: TCU 15, Carnegie Tech 7
1940s:
1940: Texas A&M 14, Tulane 13
1941: Boston College 19, Tennessee 13
1942: Fordham 2, Missouri 0
1943: Tennessee 14, Tulsa 7
1944: Georgia Tech 20, Tulsa 18
1945: Duke 29, Alabama 26
1946: Oklahoma State 33, Saint Mary’s (Calif.) 13
1947: Georgia 20, North Carolina 10
1948: Texas 27, Alabama 7
1949: Oklahoma 14, North Carolina 6
1950s:
1950: Oklahoma 35, LSU 0
1951: Kentucky 13, Oklahoma 7
1952: Maryland 28, Tennessee 13
1953: Georgia Tech 24, Mississippi 7
1954: Georgia Tech 42, West Virginia 19
1955: Navy 21, Mississippi 0
1956: Georgia Tech 7, Pittsburgh 0
1957: Baylor 13, Tennessee 7
1958: Ole Miss 39, Texas 7
1959: LSU 7, Clemson 0
1960s:
1960: Ole Miss 21, LSU 0
1961: Ole Miss 14, Rice 6
1962: Alabama 10, Arkansas 3
1963: Ole Miss 17, Arkansas 13
1964: Alabama 12, Ole Miss 7
1965: LSU 13, Syracuse 10
1966: Missouri 20, Florida 18
1967: Alabama 34, Nebraska 7
1968: LSU 20, Wyoming 13
1969: Arkansas 16, Georgia 2
1970s:
1970: Ole Miss 27, Arkansas 22
1971: Tennessee 34, Air Force 13
1972: Oklahoma 40, Auburn 22
1973: Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23
1974: Nebraska 13, Florida 10
1975: Alabama 13, Penn State 6
1977: Pittsburgh 27, Georgia 3
1978: Alabama 35, Ohio State 6
1979: Alabama 14, Penn State 7
1980s:
1980: Alabama 24, Arkansas 9
1981: Georgia 17, Notre Dame 10
1982: Pittsburgh 24, Georgia 20
1983: Penn State 27, Georgia 23
1984: Auburn 9, Michigan 7
1985: Nebraska 28, LSU 10
1986: Tennessee 35, Miami 7
1987: Nebraska 30, LSU 15
1988: Syracuse 16, Auburn 16 (tie)
1989: Florida State 13, Auburn 7
1990s:
1990: Miami 33, Alabama 25
1991: Tennessee 23, Virginia 22
1992: Notre Dame 39, Florida 28
1993: Alabama 34, Miami 13
1994: Florida 41, West Virginia 7
1995: Florida State 23, Florida 17
1997: Florida 52, Florida State 20
1998: Florida State 31, Ohio State 14
1999: Ohio State 24, Texas A&M 14
2000s:
2000: Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29
2001: Miami 37, Florida 20
2002: LSU 47, Illinois 34
2003: Georgia 26, Florida State 13
2004: LSU 21, Oklahoma 14
2005: Auburn 16, Virginia Tech 13
2006: West Virginia 38, Georgia 35
2007: LSU 41, Notre Dame 14
2008: Georgia 41, Hawaii 10
2009: Utah 31, Alabama 17
2010s:
2010: Florida 51, Cincinnati 24
2011: Ohio State 31, Arkansas 26
2012: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20
2013: Louisville 33, Florida 23
2014: Oklahoma 45, Alabama 31
2015: Ohio State 42, Alabama 35
2016: Ole Miss 48, Oklahoma State 20
2017: Oklahoma 35, Auburn 19
2018: Alabama 24, Clemson 6
2019: Texas 28, Georgia 21
2020s:
2020: Georgia 26, Baylor 14
2021: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28
2022: Baylor 21, Ole Miss 7
2023: Alabama 45, Kansas State 20
2024: Washington 37, Texas 31
2025: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10
From legendary performances to historic moments, the Sugar Bowl has delivered a rich tapestry of college football memories.
