In their 12th and final year under head coach Charlie Caldwell, the Tigers compiled a 7–2 record and outscored opponents 237 to 135.
[1] After starting the year 7–0, Princeton briefly appeared as No.
Princeton's 5–2 conference record secured second place in the Ivy League standings.
[2] This was the first season of formal play for the league, although the Tigers' previous independent schedules, dating back to the 19th century, often featured future Ivy opponents.
All seven Ivy matchups on Princeton's 1956 schedule had been present on the 1955 slate, as well (as had both non-conference opponents, Colgate and Rutgers).