It was the eighteenth edition of the annual Sugar Bowl football contest.
Tennessee featured the Heisman Trophy runner-up, Hank Lauricella.
In the first quarter, Maryland scored on a two-yard touchdown run by Ed Fullerton, giving the Terrapins a 7–0 lead.
In the second quarter, Fullerton threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Bob Shemonski, as the Terrapins built a 14–0 lead.
Tennessee got on the board with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Payne to Rechichar, as the score was 21–6 at halftime.