Santa Barbara State competed in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).
The Gauchos were led by fourth-year head coach Theodore "Spud" Harder and played home games at Peabody Stadium in Santa Barbara, California.
They finished the season with a record of five wins, two losses and two ties (5–2–2, 3–1–1 SCIAC).
No Santa Barbara Gaucho players were selected in the 1938 NFL draft.
[3][4][5] The following finished their Santa Barbara career in 1937, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.