In their third season under head coach Ray Courtright, the team compiled a 4–3–1 record and outscored its opponents by a total of 183 to 113.
[3] The Sagebrushers were also the only team to defeat the 1921 Utah Agricultural Aggies football team that won the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) championship.
[4] Nevada's star player Jimmy "Rabbit" Bradshaw was a second-team halfback on the 1921 College Football All-America Team selected by Malcolm McLean.
[5] McLean also selected Bradshaw as the first-team quarterback on his 1921 All-Western team.
McLean wrote: "The Nevada star, while not a large man, is quick as a flash, a wonder on a running team and has been compared to Walter Eckersall, former Maroon star as an all-round player.