The 1943 edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the fourth ranked Tulsa Golden Hurricane, and the seventh ranked Tennessee Volunteers. Tulsa took a 7–0 lead on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Glenn Dobbs to Cal Purdin in the second quarter. Tennessee scored on a three-yard run by Gold, but the extra point missed leaving the score 7–6. In the third quarter, Tennessee blocked a Tulsa punt out of the end zone for a safety, giving them an 8–7 advantage. And in the fourth quarter, a one-yard Fulson run made the final score 14–7.