The 1950 Cotton Bowl Classic featured the Rice Owls and the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Owls won the Southwest Conference for the fourth time in 15 years.

Not deterred, Paul Rizzo caught a touchdown pass from Charlie Justice to make it 27–7.

Ten years later, the Tar Heels returned to a bowl game, which they won.

The Owls would play in two more Cotton Bowl Classics after winning two more SWC titles before the decade ended, splitting the two.