In its fourth season under head coach Carl Snavely, Cornell compiled an 8–0 record and outscored opponents by a total of 197 to 52.
[1][2] After the season, Cornell declined a bid to the 1940 Rose Bowl so that the football players could catch up on their schoolwork.
[3] On December 1, Cornell was awarded the Lambert Trophy as the best Eastern college football team.
It was also retroactively recognized as co-national champion in the Sagarin Ratings[6] Cornell tackle Nick Drahos was a consensus first-team selection on the 1939 All-America college football team.
[8] Quarterback Walter Matuszczak was also selected as a first-team All-American by the New York Sun.