[2] The only game the Golden Gophers lost during Widseth's three years as a starter was a 6–0 loss to Northwestern in 1936.

After a 15-yard penalty was assessed, the ball was placed at Minnesota's one-yard line, and Northwestern scored a touchdown for the only points of the game.

[3] Widseth also won two varsity letters as a pitcher and first baseman for the Minnesota baseball team.

[2] Widseth was selected as a first-team All-American in all three seasons he played for the Golden Gophers.

In 1935, he received first-team All-American honors from the United Press ("UP"),[4] the All-America Board,[5] Liberty,[6] the INS,[7] the North American Newspaper Alliance,[8] the Central Press Association,[9] and the Walter Camp Football Foundation ("WCFF").

In 1939, he was selected as a second-team All-NFL player by the NFL and New York Daily News.

His official biography at the Hall of Fame describes him as follows: "A slashing, driving invader, Widseth used his 6-2 220-pound body to pummel opposing players, relentlessly advancing until the ball-carrier was within his grasp and quickly felled.