Earlier in the day, top-ranked Texas and their Heisman Trophy-winning running back Earl Campbell had lost the Cotton Bowl 38–10 to #5 Notre Dame (led by quarterback Joe Montana).
If Oklahoma defeated Arkansas in this Orange Bowl game, then the Sooners would have an inside track to the national championship.
To complicate matters for Arkansas, first-year head coach Lou Holtz suspended three players prior to the game for team violations.
[1] Two of those three players, running back Ben Cowins and wide receiver Donny Bobo, had scored 78% of the Hogs' points during the regular season.
Oklahoma was led offensively by redshirt sophomore halfback Billy Sims—who would win the Heisman Trophy two seasons later—and on defense by safety Darrol Ray and linebacker Daryl Hunt.
Another Oklahoma fumble in the first quarter by Kenny King resulted in a second Arkansas touchdown on a keeper by Hog quarterback Ron Calcagni.
Sales's Orange Bowl rushing record stood for twenty years, until broken by Ahman Green (206 yards in 1998).