American football[]
- Super Bowl VIII – Miami Dolphins won 24–7 over the Minnesota Vikings
- World Bowl I – Birmingham Americans won 22–21 over Florida Blazers (at Birmingham, Alabama)
- Sugar Bowl (1973 season):
- The game was actually played on December 31, 1973; other major bowl games were played on January 1, 1974
- The Notre Dame Fighting Irish won 24-23 over the Alabama Crimson Tide to win AP Poll national championship
- 1974 college football season:
- The Oklahoma Sooners win the AP Poll national championship; do not play in any bowl the following January due to sanctions