The team competed as an independent under head coach David A. Brodie and compiled a record of 2–0–1.
[1] The first steps to organize a football team for the 1896 at the Washington State Agricultural College were taken in the last days of September.
Open practices were organized, with team selection to be made by a committee of the school's athletic association.
[2] Challenges were received from the University of Washington at Seattle as well as Iowa State College, the latter of which was attempting to organize a West Coast tour for early December.
[2] "Several of the old players have not returned, but a number of other old players from other schools are here and will keep up the average of the team," a special report from Pullman published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer noted.