Legendary Longhorns coach, Darrell Royal passes at 88.

Legendary Coach Bear Bryant stands with Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Namath in preparation of the 1965 Orange Bowl game.

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January 1, 1965 – Orange Bowl Stadium
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

First Night Game a Classic
Texas upset No. 1 Alabama 21-17 in the first night game in Orange Bowl history. The Longhorns stopped Alabama quarterback Joe Namath inches short of the goal line on a crucial fourth-down play late in the game that would have given the Crimson Tide the lead.
 
The defeat overshadowed a heroic performance by Namath, who didn't start the game because of a knee injury. He completed 18-of-37 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns and was named the game's Most Outstanding Player.
 
The Longhorns' Ernie Koy ran for a 79-yard touchdown on Texas’ first possession. Texas went up 14-0 after quarterback Jim Hudson hit George Sauer for a 69-yard score.
 
Alabama head coach Bear Bryant then sent in Namath to replace starter Steve Sloan. He completed 10 passes on an 87-yard touchdown drive. Koy gave Texas a 21-7 lead with 27 seconds remaining in the first half. Namath came out firing in the second half, hitting Ray Perkins with a 20-yard pass to close the gap to 21-14.
 
When Texas' Marvin Kristynik fumbled late in the fourth quarter, Namath was at the controls once again. Three plays later at the one-yard line, Namath tried a quarterback sneak and Longhorn left tackle Frank Bedrick and All-American linebacker Tommy Nobis stopped him short of the goal line. Prior to the game, Alabama was named national champions by both the UPI and AP polls.
 

SCORING SUMMARY
TEXAS: Koy 79-yard run (Conway kick); TEXAS: Sauer 69-yard pass from Hudson (Conway kick); ALA: Trimble 7-yard pass from Namath (Ray kick); TEXAS: Koy 1-yard run (Conway kick); ALA: Perkins 20-yard pass from Namath (Ray kick); ALA: Ray 24-yard FG MOP: Joe Namath (Alabama)
 
Texas Head Coach: Darrell Royal
Alabama Head Coach: Paul “Bear” Bryant

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