1961 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1961

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 23

| time =

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Iowa State

| site_stadium = Clyde Williams Field

| site_cityst = Ames, IA

| score = 7–14

| attend = 16,848–18,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Goal-Line Stands Save I-State, 14-7: Hoppmann Scoots 40 To Win It|newspaper=The Cedar Rapids Gazette|author=Gus Schrader|pages=1, 5 (section IV)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-goal-line-stands-save-i-stat/154237902/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| time =

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Colorado

| site_stadium = Folsom Field

| site_cityst = Boulder, CO

| score = 0–24

| attend = 40,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Buffaloes Bomb Oklags on 2 Touchdown Aerials, 24-0|newspaper=Fort Collins Coloradoan|author=Frank Pitman|date=October 1, 1961|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-collins-coloradoan-buffaloes-bomb-o/154192587/|via=Newspapers.com}}(attendance reported for the Colorado-Oklahoma State game included 8,000 Band Day guests)

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| time =

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Tulsa

| site_stadium = Lewis Field

| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 26–0

| attend = 18,500

| source = {{cite news|title=Pokes Whitewash Hurricane, 26-0|newspaper=Stillwater News-Press|date=October 8, 1961|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stillwater-news-press-pokes-whitewash-hu/154603760/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 14

| time =

| w/l = l

| opponent = Missouri

| site_stadium = Lewis Field

| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK

| score = 0–10

| attend = 18,500

| source = {{cite news|title=MU Slips by Pokes, 10-0|newspaper=Stillwater News-Press|date=October 15, 1961|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stillwater-news-press-mu-slips-by-pokes/153148503/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| time =

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Nebraska

| site_stadium = Lewis Field

| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK

| score = 14–6

| attend = 22,067

| source = {{cite news|title=Poke Rally Hogties Nebraska, 14-6|newspaper=Stillwater News-Press|date=October 22, 1961|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stillwater-news-press-oke-rally-hogties/154604686/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| time =

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Kansas

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Lawrence, KS

| score = 8–42

| attend = 25,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Jayhawks Rip Oklahoma State In Stron Offensive Showing: Superb Show By Hadl|newspaper=The Manhattan Mercury|date=October 29, 1961|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-manhattan-mercury-jayhawks-rip-oklah/154592185/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| time =

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Wichita

| site_stadium = Veterans Field

| site_cityst = Wichita, KS

| score = 13–25

| attend = 10,115

| source = {{cite news|title=Shockers Drop OSU with 45-second 'Blitz': Wichita Cops 25-13 Victory Before 10,115|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|author=Bill Hodge|date=November 5, 1961|pages=1A, 1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-shockers-drop-osu-with/154565530/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| time =

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Houston

| site_stadium = Lewis Field

| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK

| score = 28–24

| attend = 10,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Poke Surge Downs Houston, 28-24|newspaper=Stillwater News-Press|date=November 19, 1961|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/stillwater-news-press-poke-surge-downs-h/153428624/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 25

| time =

| w/l = w

| opponent = Kansas State

| site_stadium = Lewis Field

| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK

| score = 45–0

| attend = 7,500

| source = {{cite news|title=Pokes smear K-State, 45-0|newspaper=Shawnee News-Star|date=November 26, 1961|page=9A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/shawnee-news-star-pokes-smear-k-state-4/154606744/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 2

| time =

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Oklahoma

| site_stadium = Owen Field

| site_cityst = Norman, OK

| gamename = Bedlam Series

| score = 13–21

| attend = 52,598

| source = {{cite news|title=Sooners conquer Cowpokes, 21 to 13|newspaper=Shawnee News-Star|author=Norman Rowland|date=December 3, 1961|page=15A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/shawnee-news-star-sooners-conquer-cowpok/154605992/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

On offense, the 1961 team averaged 15.4 points scored, 191.2 rushing yards, and 64.3 passing yards per game.2016 Football Guide, p. 138. On defense, the team allowed an average of 16.6 points scored, 151.8 rushing yards, and 84.7 passing yards per game2016 Football Guide, p. 140.

Halfback Jim Dillard led the team in both total offense and rushing. He gained 627 rushing yards on 128 carries for four touchdowns and an average of 4.9 yards per carry. He also caught 14 passes for 71 yards.{{cite web|title=1961 Oklahoma State Cowboys Stats|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR College Football|accessdate=September 3, 2024|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oklahoma-state/1961.html}}

Bill McFarland led the team in scoring with seven touchdowns for 42 points. He tallied 331 rushing yards on 82 carries for an average of 4.0 yards per carry.

Mike Miller was the team's leading passer, completing 37 of 86 passes (43.0%) for 371 yards with zero touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 63.0 quarterback rating. Bill Leming was the number two quarterback, completing 21 of 49 passes (42.9%) for 205 yards with one touchdown, four interceptions, and a 68.4 quarterback rating.

Don Brewington was the team's leading receiver with 14 catches for 215 yards, an average of 15.4 yards per reception.

The team voted to select two players as the team's most valuable player. They selected senior quarterback Jim Elliott and senior defensive quarterback John Maisel.{{cite news|title=Elliott, Maisel Named OSU' Most Valuable|newspaper=Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat|date=December 8, 1961|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/muskogee-daily-phoenix-and-times-democra/154597221/|via=Newspapers.com}}

No Oklahoma State players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-Big Eight Conference football team.2016 Football Guide, p. 155. Halfback Jim Dillard and tackle Frank Parker both received second-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI).{{cite news|title=Bowl Bound Colorado Buffaloes Land 3 On All-Big Eight Team|newspaper=The Bee: Danville, Virginia|date=November 28, 1961|page=3D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3189562/bowl_bound_colorado_buffaloes_land_3_on/}}{{cite news|title=Colorado Dominates All-Big Eight Team|newspaper=Warren County Observer|date=December 6, 1961|page=23|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3189602/colorado_dominates_all_big_eight_team/}}

The 1962 NFL draft was held on December 4, 1961. The following two Oklahoma State players were selected:

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" {{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Oklahoma State Cowboys| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club}}
4	51	Jim Dillard	Back	Baltimore Colts
7	98	Gary Cutsinger	Tackle	Green Bay Packers

{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1962/draft.htm|title=1962 NFL Draft Listing|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=March 13, 2021}}

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