The team first came to national attention after winning a close game against Northeastern power Holy Cross, who were on a 13-game unbeaten streak.[1] Another big win came when the Tartans upset cross-town rival and defending national champion Pittsburgh, snapping their 22-game winning streak.[2]
They finished the regular season at 7–1 and were ranked sixth in the final AP Poll,[3] the only Carnegie Tech team to ever finish ranked.[4] The Tartans were awarded the third ever Lambert Trophy, distinguishing them as the best college football team in the East.[5] They were invited to their first and only bowl game in school history, the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans,[6] where they led at halftime but lost to national champion TCU, 15–7.[7][8]