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The Battle of 1964: Arkansas to honor national title team vs. Alabama

On Saturday Arkansas will pay tribute to the 1964 national championship team by wearing a 1964-inspired uniform. The Razorbacks, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1964 national championship team, will be hosting another school that lays claim to a national championship in 1964, Alabama. Ah yes, the debate over claimed national championships is in full swing here.

Excited to honor the 1964 Arkansas National Championship team with special uniforms this Saturday! #WoooPig pic.twitter.com/cmQiyS2Sby

— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) October 9, 2014


Arkansas was named the national champion of the 1964 season at the conclusion of the bowl season by the Football Writers Association of America. The Razorbacks completed 1 11-0 season with a victory over Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. The highlight of the season was a 14-13 victory over top-ranked Texas in Austin in the middle of the season. Arkansas ended the season as the only undefeated team in the country. The 1964 season is the only national championship season in school history.

Alabama was named the national champion of 1964 by the Associated Press and the United Press International. Both national championships were crowned at the conclusion of the regular season and before the playing of bowl games. Led by Joe Namath at quarterback, the Crimson Tide went 10-1, with the lone loss coming against the Longhorns in the Orange Bowl. The regular season included wins against No. 9 Florida, No. 8 LSU and No. 10 Georgia Tech.

Why not just get Arkansas and Alabama agree to settle the score with the result of this game? The winner claims the undisputed 1964 national championship.

Wait a minute! That’s the Notre Dame Victory March! What are they doing here? Notre Dame was named the national champion of 1964 by the National Football Foundation. The Irish went 9-1 with the only loss coming in the final week of the regular season at USC, holding onto the top ranking in the AP the entire month of November before suffering a setback. Notre Dame did not play in a bowl game that season.

The AP poll has tended to be the go-to poll since it started up, but that will not stop schools from claiming whatever national championship it can.

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