In its fifteenth season under head coach Don James, the team compiled an 8–4 record, finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Pacific-10 Conference, and outscored its opponents 332 to 225.

[1] Bern Brostek was selected as the team's most valuable player.

Dennis Brown, Cary Conklin, Martin Harrison, and Andre Riley were the team captains.

Washington opened with two wins, lost three straight, then won five of six to complete the regular season at 7–4.

They led 27–7 at halftime and held All-American running back Emmitt Smith,[2] a future hall of famer, to just 17 yards on seven carries in his final college game.