In their second year under head coach Rick E. Carter, the Crusaders compiled an 8–3 record.
Terry Malone, Brian Kelley and Doug O'Donnell were the team captains.
A four-game winning streak to open the campaign put Holy Cross in the weekly national rankings in its first year in Division I-AA, rising as high as No.
13, following a rivalry loss to Tangerine Bowl-bound Boston College of Division I-A.
Holy Cross played its home games at Fitton Field on the college campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.