Stanford University was the first school to participate in three consecutive Grandaddies of Them All, and this week on Rose Bowl Friday we look at the middle game of the sequence. The Indians had lost the prior game to Columbia, and this time down in Pasadena, they took on the Alabama Crimson Tide, playing in its first Rose Bowl since the 1930 season. Unfortunately for Stanford, things were even worse this time around.

The Crimson Tide came into the with a 9-0 record, built against eight major-college teams, and Alabama finished No. 2 in the overall SRS with No. 39 SOS ranking. However, the Tide only played two road games during the season, so it was somewhat surprising to see the team play so well in Pasadena—although certainly Alabama had plenty of practice at this point for coping with the long train ride to the Best Coast.

As for Stanford, it came into the game with an 8-0-1 record, compiled against the No. 37 SOS. The Indians were No. 6 in the SRS overall, and they had played seven major-college teams along the way. Stanford’s defense had surrendered just 14 points overall on the season, and it looked primed to continue success in Pasadena, especially coming off the disappointing loss to Columbia the prior year. It wasn’t to be, though.

The Indians scored first to take a 7-0 lead in the game, before the Crimson Tide erupted for 22 points in the second quarter alone: two touchdown runs by Dixie Howell (a two-sport athlete who would play for the Washington Redskins in the NFL and in the Detroit Tigers’ minor-league system), plus a long TD pass play to Don Hutson, who would soon re-write the NFL record book for receptions, receiving yards, and scoring.

Editor’s note: opposite Hutson on the Alabama offense was end Paul Bryant. You may have heard of him, too.

Stanford would score a TD in the third period to close the gap, but Hutson secured another long TD pass in the fourth quarter to close the scoring as Alabama won the game, 29-13. A record 84,474 fans saw this game, as the stadium was sold out. Both teams would return to the Rose Bowl again before the decade was out, although we can’t imagine the star power on display being any more brighter than the Alabama end combo.