The 1953 edition to the Sugar Bowl featured the second ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams have also been nicknamed the Ramblin' Wreck, Engineers, Blacksmiths, and Golden Tornado. There are 8 men's and 7 women's teams that...

, and the seventh ranked Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss Rebels

University of Mississippi sports teams, originally known as the "Mississippi Flood" , were re-named the Rebels in 1936 and compete in the twelve-member Southeastern Conference of the NCAA's Division I. The school's colors are cardinal red and navy blue , purposely chosen to mirror the school...

. Georgia Tech won the matchup 24-7 to clinch a national championship.

Mississippi scored first on a 4 yard touchdown run from Dillard, as they took a 7-0 first quarter lead. In the second quarter, Georgia Tech scored on a 1 yard Brigma run to tie the game at 7. Rodgers kicked a 25 yard field goal as Georgia Tech went up 10-7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Leon Hardemann scored on a 6 yard touchdown run as Georgia Tech went up 17-7. In the fourth quarter, Rodgers threw a 26 yard touchdown pass to Knox, as Georgia Tech won 24-17.

Leon Hardemann was named Sugar Bowl MVP.