Texas was looking to win its second unanimous national championship in seven seasons , previously won in 1963 . The Longhorns , who had already won the national championship of the UPI coaches poll prior to the Cotton Bowl , finished with a perfect season and a second straight Southwest Conference championship . The Associated Press would conduct a final poll following the bowl games . This was independent Notre Dame 's first postseason appearance since the 1925 Rose Bowl , 45 years earlier
independent
NCAA Division I FBS independent schools
1970 Cotton Bowl Classic