In their first year under head coach Murray Warmath, the Golden Gophers compiled a 7–2 record and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 195 to 127.
[1] The team finished the season ranked #20 in the final Coaches poll.
Halfback Bob McNamara received the team's Most Valuable Player award,[2] and was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (for Look magazine) as a first-team player on the 1954 College Football All-America Team.
[3] He was also selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player on its 1954 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
[4] Fullback John Baumgartner was named Academic All-Big Ten.