Santa Clara was an independent, which cost them an invite to the Rose Bowl due to not being a Pacific Coast Conference member; Washington won the PCC.
The Broncos were 7–0 when the Sugar invitation was made, but then were shut out 9–0 by Sammy Baugh and TCU on December 12 in San Francisco.
LSU narrowed the lead in the second quarter on Gus Tinsley's touchdown catch from Bill Crass, and Santa Clara led 14–7 at halftime.
Notably, Shaw loaned shoes from nearby Loyola University to give his team an advantage on the wet field in the second half.
[8] LSU reached their third consecutive Sugar Bowl the following year, in a rematch with Santa Clara, and the Broncos won again in the rain.