Part of the 1963–64 bowl game season, it matched the seventh-ranked Ole Miss Rebels and the #8 Alabama Crimson Tide, both of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), although the two teams had not met in years.
[1][3] New Orleans received a rare substantial snowfall of 3.6 inches (9 cm) the previous day,[3] and cleared snow lay in large banks around the edges of the field.
The Crimson Tide lost to Florida and long-time rival Auburn en route to an 8–2 regular season.
[4] Originally wanting to pit Navy against Ole Miss, the Sugar Bowl extended the invitation to Alabama with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
[6][7][8] Sophomore Steve Sloan started at quarterback for the Crimson Tide in the final two games.