 Maryland finished the regular season 7 – 2 – 1 and secured the school's first-ever bowl game appearance. In the 1948 Gator Bowl against Georgia, he was honored as the Most Valuable Player. During the 20 – 20 tie, Gambino rushed to score all three of the Terrapins' touchdowns on one-, 24-, and 35-yard runs. He compiled 165 rushing yards, a school bowl rushing record that stood for 60 years until finally broken by Da 'Rel Scott in the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl. In 1992, for his achievement as the bowl game's "first superb running back," Gambino was inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame.
