In its first season under head coach Benjamin Dibblee, the Crimson compiled a 10–0–1 record, shut out 10 of 11 opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 210 to 10.
However, Harvard was retroactively named as the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation, Houlgate System, and National Championship Foundation.
Princeton compiled a 12–1 record and was named the national champion by two other selectors.
[2]: 112–114 Two Harvard players were consensus first-team selections on the 1899 All-American football team: quarterback Charles Dudley Daly and end Dave Campbell.
[3] Other players included halfback George A. Sawin, end John Hallowell, center Francis Lowell Burnett, guard William A. M. Burden Sr., and tackle Malcolm Donald.