The Kalamazoo Hornets, in their second season under head coach Bob Nulf, tied with Hillsdale for the conference championship with a 6–2 record (4–1 against MIAA opponents).
"[5] Nelson, who had played in the Michigan backfield with Tom Harmon, Forest Evashevski, and Bob Westfall, was hired as Hillsdale's athletic director in February 1946.
His hiring raised Hillsdale's profile, and he assembled a team of 50 players, 47 of whome were former service men.
[8] Hillsdale backs Tom Ward and Bill Young were known as the Dales' "touchdown twins".
[11] Four Hillsdale players received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) on the 1946 All-Star M.I.A.A.
football team: Young and Ward at back; Alex Clelland at center; and John Masterson at tackle.
[21] Kalamazoo's football team included 11 players from the South Bend, Indiana, area.
[38] Alma back Max Tullis was selected as a first-team player on the 1946 All-Star M.I.A.A.
Tackle Kenneth Swanson and guard Gayle Sexton were named to the second team.
[44] Adrian tackle James Staup was selected as a first-team player on the 1946 All-Star M.I.A.A.
[12] The Associated Press (AP) polled the MIAA coaches and selected the following players to the 1946 All-Star M.I.A.A.