 Arkansas had won the national championship in the previous year (1964), and came into the game with a 10–0 record (and an overall 22-game winning streak on the line) after winning the 1965 Southwest Conference title.The Razorbacks were again looking to win the national championship, and had the number one scoring offense coming into the game, averaging 32.4 points per contest.Arkansas took the ball to the end zone on the opening drive, capped by a 19-yard toss from Jon Brittenum to All-American end Bobby Crockett.