He led the Wolfpack to a 9–1 mark and a Southern Conference championship in 1927 under coach Gus Tebell. McDowall threw for 14 of the Wolfpack's 31 touchdowns. In the 12 to 6 win in Tampa over his hometown Florida Gators, he ran 75 yards for a touchdown after intercepting the ball off a Gator's hands. The season closed with a convincing defeat of Michigan State. He was selected to play on an All-Southern team which beat an All-Pacific Coast team on Christmas Day in Los Angeles. Georgia Tech coach Bill Alexander said of McDowall, "I have talked with a number of persons who know football well and that have seen McDowall play. They all say he is a wonder at running and passing. We expect much of him when we go to the Pacific Coast for the Christmas charity game."