The 1921 college football season had no clear-cut champion, with the Official NCAA Division I Football Records Book listing California Golden Bears, Cornell Big Red, Iowa Hawkeyes, Lafayette Leopards, Washington & Jefferson Presidents, and Vanderbilt Commodores as champions.

Andy Smith's Pacific Coast Conference champion "Wonder Team" at California continued on its streak since 1920.

Eastern power Cornell was coached by Gil Dobie and led by one of the sport's great backfields with George Pfann, Eddie Kaw, Floyd Ramsey, and Charles E. Cassidy.

In the 1922 Rose Bowl, heavily favored California played Washington & Jefferson to a scoreless tie.

The game holds several distinctions including being the only scoreless contest and the first tie in a Rose Bowl.