In 1978, the Razorbacks went 9–2 during the regular season, losing back-to-back games at No. 8 Texas and No. 11 Houston. A 49–7 win over No. 16 Texas A&M did give the Hogs a Fiesta Bowl berth, but the Razorbacks and UCLA Bruins would battle to a 10–10 tie. In 1979, Holtz's Razorbacks won a share of the Southwest Conference (sharing with Houston). The 10–2 Hogs defeated nemesis No. 2 Texas in Little Rock, but lost an outright conference title to No. 6 Houston in Fayetteville. Earning a bid to the Sugar Bowl, the No. 6 Hogs were set to play No. 2 Alabama with a chance at the national championship. Instead, Alabama defeated the Razorbacks 24–9, winning their sixth claimed national title. The Razorbacks would continue to succeed under Holtz, winning the 1980 Hall of Fame Classic following the 1980 regular season and defeating No. 1 Texas by a score of 42–11 in 1981. Despite winning another bowl game and finishing 9–2–1 in 1982, a 6–5 season in 1983 would be the end of the Holtz era.