The team scored 100 points in each of the first two contests; the 105–0 victory over Bethel of Russellville, Kentucky was the largest in Vanderbilt history.

[2] The team lost several varsity letter winners to graduation, including quarterback Ray Morrison, tackle Ewing Y. Freeland, and guards Charles H. Brown and Will Metzger.

[3][4] Aside from Morrison, Vanderbilt retained the rest of its backfield of the previous year, then voted best in the South by the Atlanta Constitution.

[5] It included halfbacks Lew Hardage (the team's captain) and Wilson Collins and fullback Ammie Sikes.

These included: the value of a touchdown increased from 5 points to 6, the length of the field was reduced to 100 yards, 10-yard end zones were added, the onside kick was eliminated, and unlimited use of the forward pass was introduced.

[2] The season started with the largest win in school history, a 105–0 victory over Bethel of Russellville, Kentucky.

[21] Substitute quarterback Rabbi Robins was better suited to the mud than starter Zach Curlin.

[21] Collins had five touchdowns, Enoch Brown three, Hardage, Robins and Morrison two each, and Reyer and Chester one each.

[25] During the game's opening drive, Rose Poly tried a trick play with a player in civilian clothes and satchel receiving the ball.

When the game ended, Georgia men tried to steal the ball, and a fight broke out, broken up by coach McGugin and umpire Ted Coy.

[29] Vanderbilt suffered its only loss of the season on the road to coach Percy Haughton's national champion Harvard Crimson 9–3.

[31] Vanderbilt's lone score was a 28-yard field goal from Zach Curlin early in the third quarter, after Harvard muffed a punt.

[31] In the last ten minutes, the Commodores tried their full repertoire of tricks, including a delayed forward pass in which the ball was handled by four men and netted a 22-yard gain from Rabbi Robins.

[32] The International News Service reported: "Although defeated, Vanderbilt was not outplayed; for never was a gamer team seen in the Stadium.

[n 1] Vanderbilt's game seemed to stagnate until Wilson Collins was hurt and replaced by Tom Shea in the third quarter.

[39] Lew Hardage was selected third-team All-American by Walter Camp, the fourth ever Southern player to get such a recognition.

[42] Innis Brown wrote: "Hardage has been rated as probably the most successful man in the south at making forward passes.

[45] According to Nathan Stauffer, Texas A&M was Vanderbilt's nearest challenger for best football team in the South.

[46] The following chart provides a visual depiction of Vanderbilt's lineup during the 1912 season with games started at the position reflected in parentheses.