[3][4][5] Missouri was the runner-up in the Big Eight Conference, selected to play in this game over Oklahoma due to the conference's new (and short-lived) rule against consecutive bowl appearances;[6] the Sooners had won the previous two Orange Bowls.
Georgia was champion of the Southeastern Conference for the first time in eleven years, and made their first bowl appearance since 1950.
Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton threw a 29-yard pass to Bill McKenny to give the Bulldogs a 7–0 lead in the first.
In the second quarter, he scrambled and threw a touchdown pass of 33 yards to Aaron Box to make it 14–0 at halftime, and the second half was scoreless.
[5] The Missouri offense outgained the Bulldogs in yards, but could not reach the end zone due to three interceptions.