In their first season under head coach Jack Murphy, the Rockets compiled a 12–0 record, outscored all opponents by a combined total of 383 to 96, and won the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship.
The season ended with a 28–3 victory over Southern Conference champion Richmond in the 1970 Tangerine Bowl.
[4] The defense led the way for the 1971 team, allowing only 164.6 total yards per game, a figure which remains a school record.
[5] Quarterback Chuck Ealey, who had led Toledo to all three undefeated seasons, finished eighth in the 1971 Heisman Trophy voting with 168 points.
[9] For the second consecutive year, he received the Jim Nicholson Award as the player contributing the most to the team's success.