The 1984 Sugar Bowl was the 50th edition to the annual game. It featured the third ranked Auburn Tigers, and the eighth ranked Michigan Wolverines. Auburn won the game by a 9-7 margin.
The only scoring in the first half was on a 4 yard touchdown run by Michigan quarterback Steve Smith. It was set up by a 19 yard completion from Smith to Triando Makray, and 38 yards rushing by Rick Rogers. Michigan took a 7-0 lead into halftime. Michigan finished the first quarter with a 116-61 differential in yardage.
Auburn used a tremendous rushing attack throughout the game. They would finish with 301 rushing yards on 21 first downs. Midway through the third quarter, Auburn kicker Al Del Greco kicked a 31 yard field goal, making it 7-3 Michigan.In the fourth quarter, Del Greco would add two more field goals of 32 and 19 yards to seal the victory for the Auburn Tigers, 9-7.
Despite Auburn's victory and a loss by No. 2 Texas earlier in the day to Georgia (whom Auburn beat in Athens Nov. 12) in the Cotton Bowl, the Tigers were not voted national champions in either of the wire-service polls. The No. 5 Miami Hurricanes vaulted past Auburn to the top spot with their 31-30 victory over top-ranked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.