In its fourth season under head coach Albert Sharpe, the Big Red compiled a 9–0 record, shut out four of nine opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 287 to 50.
[1] The 1915 team was known as The Big Red Machine, defeating every opponent by more than a touchdown.
[2] Cornell was retroactively named as the national champion by NCAA-designated "major selectors" the Helms Athletic Foundation, Houlgate System, and National Championship Foundation, and as a co-national champion (with Pittsburgh) by Parke H.
[3]: 112–114 Two Cornell players were consensus first-team selections on the 1915 All-American football team: quarterback Charley Barrett and end Murray Shelton.
[4] Both of them were later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.