1972 in football

American football

 * 23 December – In the first Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game in 25 years (and the franchises first playoff win), rookie Franco Harris salvages and converts into a touchdown a final seconds Terry Bradshaw incomplete pass in what has been called the greatest play in NFL history—The Immaculate Reception—to beat the Oakland Raiders 13-7.
 * Super Bowl VI – Dallas Cowboys won 24–3 over the Miami Dolphins
 * Orange Bowl (1971 season):
 * The Nebraska Cornhuskers won 38-6 over the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the college football national championship