The game pitted the Texas Tech Red Raiders against the Auburn Tigers The Red Raiders finished as champions of the Border Conference for the fifth time in eleven years while winning ten games for the first time since 1938, with a 27–14 loss to Texas A&M being the only blemish.
As for Auburn, they started the season 2-1-1, with two victories (including a victory over #15 Ole Miss), a tie to #13 Mississippi State, and a loss to #8 Georgia Tech.
The Tigers would promptly win their next five games to rise to #16 in the rankings leading into the Iron Bowl matchup with Alabama, which they lost 10–7, as Auburn finished third in the Southeastern Conference.
Texas Tech outrushed the Tigers 226 to 195, outthrew them 145 to 72 while forcing two four turnovers.
Pound sign (#) denotes national championship game.