Led by head coach Dudley DeGroot, the Dons finished 7–5–2,[1] third in the West division, and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Charlie O'Rourke with 1,250 passing yards, John Kimbrough with 473 rushing yards, Dale Gentry with 341 receiving yards, and Joe Aguirre with 55 points scored (31 extra points, four field goals, and two touchdowns).

[2] On September 13, 1946, in the first game in team history, the Dons defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 20-14, before a crowd of 18,995 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Bud Nygren scored the first points on a touchdown pass from quarterback Charlie O'Rourke.

[3] Players shown in bold started at least one game at the position listed as confirmed by contemporary game coverage from the Los Angeles Times.