In their seventh season under head coach Buck Shaw, the Broncos compiled a 7–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 101 to 52, and were ranked No.
[2] After winning its first four games against Utah, Stanford, California, and Oregon State, Santa Clara was ranked No.
In the final game of the season, the Broncos lost to the powerful service team assembled at Saint Mary's Preflight School.
Two Santa Clara players were recognized on the 1942 College Football All-America Team: end Al Beals received second-team honors from the Central Press Association; and quarterback Jesse Freitas received third-team honors from the Associated Press.
Athletic director George Barsi noted that 94% of the prior year's student body was in the armed services, and the shortage of manpower made it "inadvisable to field a team".