The team was a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), compiling a 6–1–1 record.

[19] To close the regular season, Cumberland beat Alabama, LSU, and Tulane all by shutout in five days.

Cumberland tied John Heisman's Clemson Tigers in a game billed as the SIAA championship.

Wiley Lee Umphlett in Creating the Big Game: John W. Heisman and the Invention of American Football writes, "During the first half, Clemson was never really in the game due mainly to formidable line play of the Bridges brothers–giants in their day at 6 feet 4 inches–and a big center named "Red" Smith, was all over the field backing up the Cumberland line on defense.

"[23] A contemporary account reads "The Clemson players seemed mere dwarfs as they lined up for the kickoff.

To the crowd on the sidelines it didn't seem that Heisman's charges could possibly do more than give a gallant account of themselves in a losing battle.

Cumberland expected a trick play when Fritz Furtick simply ran up the middle and scored.

[25] One account of the play reads "Heisman saw his chance to exploit a weakness in the Cumberland defense: run the ball where the ubiquitous Red Smith wasn't.

Some ten minutes of bickering was resolved when the ball was given to patrolman Patrick J. Sweeney, for warning the media and fans to stay down in front and allow spectators to see the game.

[25] Heisman pushed for Cumberland to be named SIAA champions at year's end,[26] and the school claims a share of the title.