The game was played according to the Football Association’s rules (similar to soccer), but the style of play closely resembled rugby. The teams were not using a pigskin ball, and the structure of the game was vastly different from modern football. Despite these differences, this contest between Princeton and Rutgers is credited as the beginning of intercollegiate football.

The game ended with Rutgers emerging victorious, scoring six "runs" to Princeton’s four. However, just two weeks later, Princeton avenged their loss with an 8-0 shutout against Rutgers. Both teams were retroactively awarded the 1869 National Championship, acknowledging their pivotal roles in launching the sport of college football. While the game may have been far from today's version of football, it remains a significant milestone in the history of American sports.