In their fourth season under head coach and College Football Hall of Fame inductee James Phelan, the Gaels compiled a 7–2 record, outscored their opponents by a combined total of 282 to 65, and were ranked No.
Their only loss during the regular season was to UCLA by a 13–7 score.
The Gaels were invited to play in the 1946 Sugar Bowl where they lost to an undefeated No.
[3] College Football Hall of Fame inductee Herman Wedemeyer ranked second nationally with 1,040 passing yards.
[4] Three Gaels received honors on the 1945 All-Pacific Coast football team: Wedemeyer at halfback (AP-1, UP-1); Charles Albert (Spike) Cordeiro, Jr. at halfback (UP-1); and Ed Ryan at end (AP-1, UP-1).