In their second season under head coach Bob Blackman, the Indians compiled a 5–3–1 record, and outscored opponents 122 to 89.
[1] The Indians' 4–3 conference record tied for third place in the Ivy League.
[2] This was the first season of formal play for the league, although the Indians' previous independent schedules, dating back to the 19th century, often featured future Ivy opponents.
Six of the seven Ivy matchups on Dartmouth's 1956 schedule had been present on the 1955 slate, as well (as had one of the non-conference opponents, Holy Cross).
Dartmouth played its home games at Memorial Field on the college campus in Hanover, New Hampshire.