Under seventh-year head coach Jim Owens, the team lost their first three games, compiled a 6–4 record in the regular season, and won the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU, a.k.a.
[1] On New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl, the Huskies led early but lost 17–7 to third-ranked Illinois.
[2][3] It was the third Rose Bowl for Washington under Owens and their first loss; they had won consecutive games in January 1960 and 1961.
The Huskies did not return to Pasadena for fourteen years, a victory in January 1978 in head coach Don James' third season.
Halfback Dave Kopay and center John Stupey were the team captains.