In its tenth season under head coach George Munger, the team compiled a 7–0–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 219 to 35, and was ranked No.
The team's lone setback was a 7–7 tie with Army.
[1] Munger was Penn's head coach for 16 years; he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976.
In addition, three players from the 1947 team were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: center/linebacker Chuck Bednarik; tackle George Savitsky; and halfback Skip Minisi.
Bednarik was a consensus first-team All-American;[2] he also finished seventh in the 1947 voting for the Heisman Trophy.