Detroit shut out six of nine opponents, outscored all opponents by a combined total of 147 to 27, and finished with a 7–2 record in its 16th year under head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Gus Dorais.
According to the American Football Statistical Bureau's 1940 yearbook, the Titans ranked first among the 13 major Midwestern schools (a category including the Western Conference teams) in total offense (322.3 yards per game), rushing offense (242.6 yards per game), total defense (140 yards per game), rushing defense (63.6 yards per game), first downs made (133), and fewest first downs against (58).
38 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.
[4] Detroit halfback Al Ghesquiere led the NCAA major college programs with 956 rushing yards, finishing ahead of Michigan's Heisman Trophy winner, Tom Harmon.
[5] The team's center, Vince Banonis, was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.