The Rebels were invited to the Sugar Bowl on the strength of November victories over SEC powers LSU (26–23) and Tennessee (38–0), both at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson.

Though Manning's sons Peyton and Eli later became star quarterbacks in the SEC (at Tennessee and Ole Miss, respectively), neither played in the Sugar Bowl.

The playing field was left in very poor condition for Super Bowl IV, which was held in the stadium ten days later.

When the National Football League awarded Super Bowl VI to Tulane Stadium in March 1971, it stipulated the university and the New Orleans Saints install artificial turf.

In 1980 (1979 season), the Razorbacks of Lou Holtz lost 24–9 to national champion Alabama (coached by Arkansas native Bear Bryant), and in 2011 (2010 season), the Bobby Petrino-led Hogs lost 31–26 to Ohio State (the Buckeyes later vacated the win following the discovery of numerous NCAA violations under the watch of coach Jim Tressel).