In their fourth year under head coach Rick E. Carter, the Crusaders compiled an 8–3 record.
[1] As in the previous year, Holy Cross began the campaign with a long winning streak (seven games), and was ranked as high as No.
Two late-season losses to Division I-AA foes, however, dropped them out of the upper echelon.
Their third loss, in a game played after the final rankings were released, was to Division I-A powerhouse Boston College on the day that BC quarterback Doug Flutie won the Heisman Trophy.
Holy Cross played its home games at Fitton Field on the college campus in Worcester, Massachusetts.