The 1948 University of Oregon football squad narrowly missed a chance to play in the 1949 Rose Bowl, but broke a barrier established by the Pacific Coast Conference and played in the Cotton Bowl.

The ’48 Ducks, in coach Jim Aiken’s second season, featured junior quarterback Norm Van Brocklin and senior center Brad Ecklund, who had both served in the military during World War II. They opened the season ranked 15th in the Associated Press poll.

With Van Brocklin passing and punting and Ecklund playing on both offensive and defensive lines the Ducks went 9-1 during the regular season, losing only 14-0 at Michigan, who went unbeaten and finished the season ranked No. 1.
Van Brocklin passed for 1,010 yards during the season, becoming the first Oregon quarterback to surpass 1,000 yards. Ecklund played every minute of five games.

Oregon finished 7-0 in the PCC and reached No. 9 in the Associated Press poll, but California, in the midst of winning 33 straight regular season games, finished 6-0 in the PCC and won a vote of conference members to represent it in the Rose Bowl.

Ironically, Michigan didn’t play in the Rose Bowl as the Big 9 Conference had established a rule preventing schools from participating in the game in consecutive years. Northwestern played in the game and defeated Cal 20-14.
In the Rose Bowl vote, the conference allowed Oregon to accept a bid from the Cotton Bowl Classic to play Southwestern Conference champion Southern Methodist, 8-1-1, in Dallas. Previously, only the conference champion played a postseason game. The Cotton Bowl was Oregon’s first bowl appearance since the 1920 Rose Bowl.

SMU, with Heisman Trophy winner Doak Walker in the backfield, won 21-13 before a crowd of 69,000 on Jan. 1, 1949. Walker ran for a score, kicked two extra points and stunned the Ducks with a quick kick in the first half that rolled 79 yards and ended up inside the Oregon 1.

Van Brocklin completed 9 of 18 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown, which went to Dick Wilkins. George Bell ran for 93 yards on 17 carries. Bob Sanders carried 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. Bell also had an interception.
Van Brocklin, Ecklund and end Dan Garza were all voted to the All-PCC First Team following the regular season. Van Brocklin was named an All-America.

Players on the team voted Ecklund as the Skeie’s Award, given to the team’s most outstanding player since 1939.

Black and white image of the 1948 University of Oregon football team that later played in the 1949 Cotton Bowl on January 1 vs. SMU, losing that game 21-13. From left to right, front row: Jim Atkin, Norm Van Brocklin, Bud Boqua, Earl Stelle, Brad Ecklund, Dan Garza, Don Stanton, Bob Sanders, George Bell, Wayne Bartholemy, Ed Chrobat, coach Dick Miner. Row 2: Win Wright, Bill Marker, John Arnold, Bob Oas, Steve Dotur, Ted Meland, Jim Berwick, Ray Lung, Rick Wilkins, Bob Anderson, Dick Mobley, coach John Warren. Row 3: manager Stan Coring, Benny Holcomb, Bunny Easter, Walt Henders, Dick Morrison, Dave Gibson, Dick Patrick, Chet Daniels, Jim Aiken Jr., George Balch, Keith Decourcey, coach Bob Sullivan. Row 4: Darrell Robinson, Harry Edwards, Bo Moace, Bus Newcomer, John McKay, Jack Countryman, Hal Cuffel, Gene Gillies, Sam Nevills, Bob Roberts, Joe Tom, Dean Sheldon, manager Joe French. Row 5: manager Bill Green, DeWayne Johnson, Larry Black, Oscar Lemiere, Jerry Smith, Lou Robinson, Tom Hines, Doug Coghill, Larry Hull, Les Hagen, Norm Yatchmenoff, John Ryan, Woodley Lewis. Picture appears on pages 72-73 of Oregon Ducks football : 100 years of glory, edited by Michael C. McCann, 1995.