In their seventh year under head coach Murray Warmath, the Golden Gophers compiled an 8–2 record and outscored their opponents 228 to 88.
After Minnesota cruised to a 26–7 victory over Wisconsin, the Gophers were tied with Iowa in the Big Ten standings, each with a loss.
The Golden Gophers had earned their fourth AP national championship and first-ever trip to the Rose Bowl in the process.
Guard Tom Brown received the team's Most Valuable Player award, was a consensus first-team All-American, won the Outland Trophy, finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, and received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, given to the Big Ten most valuable player.
Brown, end Tom Hall, and center Greg Larson were named All-Big Ten first team.