1945 Sugar Bowl

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1945 Sugar Bowl: The 11th Sugar Bowl was played January 1, 1945, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. Alabama, coached by Frank Thomas, faced Duke, coached by Eddie Cameron. Duke won 29–26 in front of about 72,000 fans. The game was part of the 1944 season; Duke came from the Southern Conference and Alabama from the SEC. Alabama’s wartime roster was built around younger players nicknamed the “War Babies.” For context, the 1942 Alabama team finished 5–1–2 with a loss to Georgia and ties with LSU and Tennessee. Alabama was invited to the Sugar Bowl on November 25, marking their first Sugar Bowl appearance and their eighth bowl game overall, during an era when teams could play in all four major bowls (Rose, Cotton, Orange, Sugar).