[4] The game featured two of the most racially integrated college football teams of the day, with six African American players for the Bruins and seven for the Spartans.

[7][8][9] Only one month previous, Rosa Parks made her famous protest in the Montgomery bus boycott.

However, Ohio State would not be invited to the Rose Bowl because of the no-repeat rule in the Big Ten conference.

On the first play from scrimmage, Jim Decker of UCLA intercepted a pass from Michigan State quarterback Earl Morrall, and returned four yards to the MSU 16-yard line.

Four plays later, Bob Davenport scored on a two-yard run over left guard to give the Bruins a 7–0 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, Michigan State put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive to pull even at seven; Walt Kowalczyk's 30-yard run to the UCLA 17 set up Morrall's 13-yard touchdown toss to Clarence Peaks.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, the Spartans took their first lead at 14–7 on Peaks’ 67-yard touchdown pass to John Lewis, who caught the ball on the 50 and took it the distance.

Replacing Planutis as placekicker, Dave Kaiser of Michigan State converted his first career field-goal attempt, a 41-yard kick, with seven seconds remaining in the game to give the Spartans a 17–14 win.

In the 1956 Orange Bowl, the #1 Oklahoma Sooners defeated the #3 Maryland Terrapins 20–6 in a battle of undefeated teams.