[2] The Washington Huskies were the first conference champions of the newly-formed Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU), commonly referred to as the "Big Five" at the time (and now as the Pac-12).

Washington entered the game as the West representative, the first champions of the newly-formed AAWU conference.

They were led by quarterback Bob Schloredt, a 20-year-old junior who "conspicuously lacked his trade's traditional egotism," stating "I consider myself just adequate."

[1] Wisconsin, the Big Ten Conference champion, had a 7–2 regular season record, with losses to Purdue and Illinois.

Schloredt was subsequently named the Player of the Game the following year, the first in the history of the Rose Bowl to be twice-honored.