After the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers' Joe Moore was hit in the backfield and fumbled on the first play and Penn State recovered.
On the next play, quarterback Chuck Burkhart threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to halfback Lydell Mitchell, giving them a 10–0 lead in the first quarter.
Missouri threatened late, with a first down at the Penn State fifteen with less than two minutes remaining, but resulted in the seventh interception on third down, returned from the two to across midfield.
Penn State clinched their second straight undefeated season, but due to Texas' victory in the Cotton Bowl earlier in the day, the Longhorns were declared Associated Press national champions.
This was the last Orange Bowl played on natural grass for seven years; the stadium installed artificial turf (Poly-Turf) prior to the next season.