In 1936, the SMU Mustangs secured a victory in the 22nd Rose Bowl game.

The Rose Bowl, an annual college football bowl game, is traditionally held on New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2.

SMU entered the game with a 12–0 record and a top-ranked team boasting a dominant defense that had shut out opponents in eight of 12 games.

Stanford, aiming to avoid a third consecutive Rose Bowl loss, struck first with a touchdown run by Bill Paulman in the first quarter. The rest of the game was defined by strong defensive play. Two ends were named MVPs due to the defensive nature of the matchup, which featured six interceptions by Stanford and a critical fumble by SMU at Stanford’s five-yard line.

The game totaled 355 combined yards, but there were also 25 punts and only 15 first downs, showcasing the intensity of the defensive struggle.