The Golden Hurricane finished as champions of the Missouri Valley Conference.
A loss to Ole Miss the next week dropped them, but three consecutive victories led them back to the Top 10 in the polls in their first bowl game since 1957.
Hal Wantland gave the Vols a 6–0 lead after a Tulsa fumble led to his 4-yard touchdown catch from Warren a few plays later.
The Golden Hurricane made it 6–6 on a Gary McDermott touchdown plunge.
Dewey Warren ran for three touchdowns, and Stan Mitchell added in an 11-yard run of his own to contribute to 21 straight points for the Vols.