1982 – 83 NCAA football bowl games The 1982 - 83 Bowl Season featured 16 games starting early in December and ending on January 1 , 1983 . The Aloha Bowl was introduced this year . Independence Bowl . December 11 , 1982 Shreveport , LA < br > " Independence Stadium " Wisconsin ( Big 10 ) 14 Kansas State ( Big 8 ) 3 Holiday Bowl . December 17 , 1982 San Diego , CA < br > " Jack Murphy Stadium " < br > At Large ( ) : Ohio St . Buckeyes 47 , WAC Champion : BYU Cougars 17 Tangerine Bowl . December 18 , 1982 Orlando , FL < br > " Orlando Stadium " Auburn Tigers ( SEC ) 33 v . Boston College Eagles ( Ind ) 26 California Bowl . December 18 , 1982 Fresno , CA < br > PCAA Champion : Fresno St . Bulldogs 29 , MAC Champion : Bowling Green Falcons 28 Sun Bowl . December 25 , 1982 El Paso , Texas " Sun Bowl Stadium " North Carolina ( ACC ) 26 , Texas ( SWC ) 10 Aloha Bowl . December 25 , 1982 Honolulu , Hawaii " Aloha Stadium " Washington ( Pac - 10 ) 26 , Maryland ( ACC ) 20 Liberty Bowl . December 29 , 1982 : Alabama 21 ( SEC ) v . Illinois 15 ( Big 10 ) Gator Bowl . December 30 , 1982 Jacksonville , Florida " Gator Bowl Stadium " Florida State ( Independent ) 26 , West Virginia ( Independent ) 20 Hall of Fame Classic . Played in Birmingham , AL , this Hall of Fame Classic game ( lasted from 1977 to 1985 , then became the All - American Bowl for 5 more years ) pitted the 8 - 4 Air Force Falcons against the 8 - 4 Vanderbilt Commodores on December 31 , 1982 . Down by 28 - 17 , the Falcons struck for 19 points in final quarter to win 36 - 28 . ( source : Air Force Falcon Football Media Guide , 1996 ) Bluebonnet Bowl . January 1 , 1983 Houston , Texas < br > " Astrodome " Arkansas ( SWC ) 28 Florida 24 ( SEC ) Peach Bowl . December 31 , 1982 Atlanta , Georgia < br > " Atlanta - Fulton County Stadium " Iowa ( Big 10 ) 28 Tennessee 22 ( SEC ) Fiesta Bowl . January 1 , 1983 Tempe , AZ < br > " Sun Devil Stadium " Arizona St . 32 ( Pac 10 ) Oklahoma ( Big - 8 ) 21 Orange Bowl . January 1 , 1983 Miami , FL < br > " Miami Orange Bowl " < br > Big 8 Champion : Nebraska Cornhuskers 21 , At Large ( SEC # 2 ) LSU Tigers 20 < br > Most Valuable Players : Turner Gill and Dave Rimington Sugar Bowl . January 1 , 1983 New Orleans , LA < br > " Louisiana Superdome " < br > At Large ( Independent ) : Penn St . Nittany Lions 27 , Georgia 23 After Penn State controlled the first half , Georgia attempted to muster a comeback in the second half . It looked like they might be successful , until Penn State completed a 47 yard play - action pass from Todd Blackledge to a diving Gregg Garrity for a touchdown in the 4th quarter . Still , Georgia came back to score a touchdown of their own to get to within 4 points with 4 minutes remaining , but the Nittany Lions were able to run out the clock for the victory . The win earned Penn State its first national championship . Most Valuable Player : Todd Blackledge Rose Bowl . January 1 , 1983 Pasadena , CA < br > " Rose Bowl " < br > Pac - 10 Champion : UCLA Bruins 24 , Big Ten champion Michigan Wolverines 14 < br > Most Outstanding Players : Tom Ramsey and Don Rogers Cotton Bowl . January 1 , 1983 Dallas , TX < br > " Cotton Bowl " < br > SWC Champion : SMU Mustangs 7 , At Large ( Independent ) : Pitt Panthers 3 < br > SMU had a pair of great runners in Eric Dickerson and Craig James , while Pitt had a great passer in Dan Marino . However , a mistake - ridden performance would kill all the expected offensive fireworks , with SMU giving away two fumbles and Dan Marino throwing an interception in the end zone in the final quarter . The victory earned undefeated SMU the number two spot in the polls . Most Outstanding Players : Lance McIllhenny and Wes Hopkins