In his first season at Arkansas, Holtz led them to a berth in the 1978 Orange Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners, then coached by Barry Switzer. The Sooners were in position to win their third national championship in four seasons after top-ranked Texas lost earlier in the day to fifth-ranked Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Arkansas' chances looked slim after the team lost several key personnel just before the game. In one of his last practices, All-American guard, Leotis Harris suffered a season-ending injury, and only a couple of days later Holtz suspended both starting running backs, Ben Cowins and Michael Forrest, and top receiver, Donny Bobo, for disciplinary reasons. However, behind an Orange Bowl record of 205 yards rushing from reserve running back Roland Sales the Hogs defeated the Sooners, 31–6.
Replies to: "Forgotten history: How Arkansas and Lou Holtz helped ND win a Nattie."
- Forgotten history: How Arkansas and Lou Holtz helped ND win a Nattie. - Curly1918 - 9:19am 9/25/25
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- The 77/78 bowl games were the perfect storm for an Irish title. [LINK]
- ELP - 11:25am 9/25/25
- Those were the days when we got the break because we almost always played the top ranked team. - THEISMANCARR - 6:29pm 9/25/25
- The 77/78 bowl games were the perfect storm for an Irish title. [LINK]
- ELP - 11:25am 9/25/25