pacific coast champion oregon state was responsible for selecting and inviting the opposing team. number one ranked minnesota was the first choice, but the western conference, forerunner of the big ten conference, did not permit their teams to play in bowl games until the 1946 agreement between the big ten and pacific coast conference. duke would have been a logical second choice, but coach wallace wade had rubbed a lot of californians the wrong way due to his antics following his 7-3 loss in the 1939 rose bowl. the southern california media championed missouri or fordham. oregon state responded by inviting fordham, who they had beaten in their 1933 ironmen year. unknown to oregon state, both fordham and missouri had received take it or leave it offers from the sugar bowl before their invite to the rose bowl, and each had accepted the offer. unable to invite their three first choices, the beavers settled on number two ranked and undefeated duke blue devils, much to the chagrin of southern california. the selection was announced on december 1, 1941. duke's defense had not allowed more than 14 points all year. the blue devils were averaging a 30-point victory every time they took the field. in each game, the blue devils won by at least 13 points. the blue devils were on an 11-game winning streak, having gone 24-4, and .857 winning percentage, since their 1939 rose bowl defeat.