The 1957 East Texas State football team went 8-1 in the regular season, finishing 6-1 in conference play to win the program's 13th Lone Star Conference Championship, led by Lion Hall of Fame coach J.V. Sikes. After the regular season, the Lions accepted a bid to play in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando Fla. on Jan. 1, 1958. ETSU pulled off a 10-9 victory over Southern Mississippi on a 31-yard field goal by fullback Neal Hinson. The field goal was the first for Hinson during the season. The stingy Lions defense halted four Southern Mississippi drives inside the 10-yard line without allowing a point. ETSU was the only four-year college in Texas to win a postseason bowl game that year.

Defensive end Norman Roberts was named a First Team All-American and won two All-America awards during the year. Offensive guard Kenneth Deason and quarterback Sam McCord were named Honorable Mention All-Americans. Five players were named First Team All-LSC with two players being named Second Team All-LSC and one player named Honorable Mention All-Conference.