1961 major college football rankings
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football rankings
| season = 1961
| image =
| image_caption =
| preseason_number_1 = Iowa
| champions = Alabama
| conference =
}}
Two human polls comprised the 1961 major college football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
Legend
| style="border:1px solid black;" |
| style="background:#D8FFEB; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Increase in ranking |
| style="background:#FFE6E6; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| style="background:#FFFFE6; width:20px; border:1px solid black;" |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| style="background:#9cf; width:20px; border:1px solid black;"|
| | National champion |
| {{center|(#–#)}}
| | Win–loss record |
| {{center|(Italics)}}
| | Number of first place votes |
| {{center|т}}
| | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
AP poll
The final AP poll was released on December 5, at the end of the regular season, weeks before the bowls.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=olspAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_ecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4343%2C1944288 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Bryant says Crimson Tide best team he's ever had |date=December 6, 1961 |page=15}} Starting in the 1961 season and until the 1967 season, the AP poll ranked only 10 teams.
{{clear right}}
{{ColPollTable
|Week1 = 0
|Week2 = 1
|Week3 = 2
|Week4 = 3
|Week5 = 4
|Week6 = 5
|Week7 = 6
|Week8 = 7
|Week9 = 8
|Week10 = 9
|Week11 = 10
|Week12 = 11 (Final)
|Week1Date = Aug{{cite web |title=1961 Preseason AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=248
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week2Date = Sep 25{{cite web |title=September 25, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=249
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week3Date = Oct 2{{cite web |title=October 2, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=250
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week4Date = Oct 9{{cite web |title=October 9, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=251
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week5Date = Oct 16{{cite web |title=October 16, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=252
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week6Date = Oct 23{{cite web |title=October 23, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=253
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week7Date = Oct 30{{cite web |title=October 30, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=254
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week8Date = Nov 6{{cite web |title=November 6, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=255
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week9Date = Nov 13{{cite web |title=November 13, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=256
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week10Date = Nov 20{{cite web |title=November 20, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=257
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week11Date = Nov 27{{cite web |title=November 27, 1961 AP Football Poll |url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=258
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week12Date = Dec 5{{cite web |title=1961 Final AP Football Poll|url=http://collegepollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=259
|work=College Poll Archive |access-date=March 25, 2017 }}
|Week1-1 = Iowa (22)
|Week1-2 = Ohio State (15)
|Week1-3 = Alabama (3)
|Week1-4 = Texas (1)
|Week1-5 = LSU
|Week1-6 = Michigan State
|Week1-7 = Penn State (1)
|Week1-8 = Kansas (1)
|Week1-9 = Ole Miss (2)
|Week1-10 = Syracuse
|Week2-1 = Iowa (0–0) (19)
|Week2-1-Color =
|Week2-2 = Ole Miss (1–0) (12)
|Week2-2-Color = u
|Week2-3 = Ohio State (0–0) (7)
|Week2-3-Color = d
|Week2-4 = Alabama (1–0) (6)
|Week2-4-Color = d
|Week2-5 = Syracuse (1–0)
|Week2-5-Color = u
|Week2-6 = Texas (1–0) (1)
|Week2-6-Color = d
|Week2-7 = Rice (0–0) (2)
|Week2-7-Color = npr
|Week2-8 = Penn State (1–0) (2)
|Week2-8-Color = d
|Week2-9 = UCLA (1–0)
|Week2-9-Color = npr
|Week2-10 = Michigan State (0–0)
|Week2-10-Color = d
|Week2Dropped = {{ubl|Kansas|LSU}}
|Week3-1 = Iowa (1–0) (24)
|Week3-1-Color =
|Week3-2 = Ole Miss (2–0) (16)
|Week3-2-Color =
|Week3-3 = Georgia Tech (2–0) (7)
|Week3-3-Color = npr
|Week3-4 = Alabama (2–0) (1)
|Week3-4-Color =
|Week3-5 = Texas (2–0) (2)
|Week3-5-Color = u
|Week3-6 = Michigan State (1–0) (1)
|Week3-6-Color = u
|Week3-7 = Syracuse (2–0)
|Week3-7-Color = d
|Week3-8 = Ohio State (0–0–1)
|Week3-8-Color = d
|Week3-9 = Michigan (1–0)
|Week3-9-Color = npr
|Week3-10 = Baylor (1–0)
|Week3-10-Color = npr
|Week3Dropped = {{ubl|UCLA|Penn State|Rice}}
|Week4-1 = Ole Miss (3–0) (24)
|Week4-1-Color = u
|Week4-2 = Iowa (2–0) (11)
|Week4-2-Color = d
|Week4-3 = Alabama (3–0) (4)
|Week4-3-Color = u
|Week4-4 = Texas (3–0) (3)
|Week4-4-Color = u
|Week4-5 = Michigan State (2–0) (2)
|Week4-5-Color = u
|Week4-6 = Michigan (2–0) (2)
|Week4-6-Color = u
|Week4-7 = Ohio State (1–0–1)
|Week4-7-Color = u
|Week4-8 = Notre Dame (2–0) (1)
|Week4-8-Color = npr
|Week4-9 = Baylor (2–0)
|Week4-9-Color = u
|Week4-10 = Maryland (3–0)
|Week4-10-Color = npr
|Week4Dropped = {{ubl|Georgia Tech|Syracuse}}
|Week5-1 = Michigan State (3–0) (16)
|Week5-1-Color = u
|Week5-2 = Ole Miss (4–0) (21)
|Week5-2-Color = d
|Week5-3 = Texas (4–0) (2)
|Week5-3-Color = u
|Week5-4 = Iowa (3–0) (2)
|Week5-4-Color = d
|Week5-5 = Alabama (4–0) (4)
|Week5-5-Color = d
|Week5-6 = Notre Dame (3–0) (1)
|Week5-6-Color = u
|Week5-7 = Ohio State (2–0–1) (1)
|Week5-7-Color =
|Week5-8 = Georgia Tech (3–1)
|Week5-8-Color = npr
|Week5-9 = Colorado (3–0)
|Week5-9-Color = npr
|Week5-10 = Arkansas (3–1) т
|Week5-10-Color = tnpr
|Week5-11 = LSU (3–1) т
|Week5-11-Color = npr
|Week5Dropped = {{ubl|Baylor|Maryland|Michigan|}}
|Week6-1 = Michigan State (4–0) (29)
|Week6-1-Color =
|Week6-2 = Ole Miss (5–0) (11)
|Week6-2-Color =
|Week6-3 = Texas (5–0) (3)
|Week6-3-Color =
|Week6-4 = Alabama (5–0) (4)
|Week6-4-Color = u
|Week6-5 = Iowa (4–0) (1)
|Week6-5-Color = d
|Week6-6 = Ohio State (3–0–1)
|Week6-6-Color = u
|Week6-7 = LSU (4–1)
|Week6-7-Color = u
|Week6-8 = Notre Dame (3–1)
|Week6-8-Color = d
|Week6-9 = Georgia Tech (4–1)
|Week6-9-Color = d
|Week6-10 = Colorado (4–0)
|Week6-10-Color = d
|Week6Dropped = {{ubl|Arkansas}}
|Week7-1 = Michigan State (5–0) (31)
|Week7-1-Color =
|Week7-2 = Ole Miss (6–0) (8)
|Week7-2-Color =
|Week7-3 = Texas (6–0) (6)
|Week7-3-Color =
|Week7-4 = Alabama (6–0) (2)
|Week7-4-Color =
|Week7-5 = Ohio State (4–0–1)
|Week7-5-Color = u
|Week7-6 = LSU (5–1)
|Week7-6-Color = u
|Week7-7 = Georgia Tech (5–1)
|Week7-7-Color = u
|Week7-8 = Colorado (5–0)
|Week7-8-Color = u
|Week7-9 = Iowa (4–1)
|Week7-9-Color = d
|Week7-10 = Missouri (5–0–1)
|Week7-10-Color = npr
|Week7Dropped = {{ubl|Notre Dame|}}
|Week8-1 = Texas (7–0) (35)
|Week8-1-Color = u
|Week8-2 = Alabama (7–0) (6)
|Week8-2-Color = u
|Week8-3 = Ohio State (5–0–1) (7)
|Week8-3-Color = u
|Week8-4 = LSU (6–1)
|Week8-4-Color = u
|Week8-5 = Minnesota (5–1)
|Week8-5-Color = npr
|Week8-6 = Michigan State (5–1)
|Week8-6-Color = d
|Week8-7 = Ole Miss (6–1)
|Week8-7-Color = d
|Week8-8 = Colorado (6–0)
|Week8-8-Color =
|Week8-9 = Georgia Tech (6–1)
|Week8-9-Color = d
|Week8-10 = Missouri (5–1–1)
|Week8-10-Color =
|Week8Dropped = {{ubl|Iowa}}
|Week9-1 = Texas (8–0) (41)
|Week9-1-Color =
|Week9-2 = Alabama (8–0) (3)
|Week9-2-Color =
|Week9-3 = Ohio State (6–0–1) (2)
|Week9-3-Color =
|Week9-4 = LSU (7–1) (1)
|Week9-4-Color =
|Week9-5 = Minnesota (6–1)
|Week9-5-Color =
|Week9-6 = Ole Miss (7–1)
|Week9-6-Color = u
|Week9-7 = Purdue (5–2)
|Week9-7-Color = npr
|Week9-8 = Colorado (6–1)
|Week9-8-Color =
|Week9-9 = Michigan State (5–2)
|Week9-9-Color = d
|Week9-10 = Syracuse (6–2)
|Week9-10-Color = npr
|Week9Dropped = {{ubl|Georgia Tech|Missouri|}}
|Week10-1 = Alabama (9–0) (39)
|Week10-1-Color = u
|Week10-2 = Ohio State (7–0–1) (6)
|Week10-2-Color = u
|Week10-3 = Minnesota (7–1) (2)
|Week10-3-Color = u
|Week10-4 = LSU (8–1) (1)
|Week10-4-Color =
|Week10-5 = Texas (8–1)
|Week10-5-Color = d
|Week10-6 = Ole Miss (8–1) (1)
|Week10-6-Color =
|Week10-7 = Colorado (7–1)
|Week10-7-Color = u
|Week10-8 = Michigan State (6–2)
|Week10-8-Color = u
|Week10-9 = Arkansas (7–2)
|Week10-9-Color = npr
|Week10-10 = Kansas (6–2–1)
|Week10-10-Color= npr
|Week10Dropped = {{ubl|Purdue|Syracuse}}
|Week11-1 = Alabama (9–0) (26)
|Week11-1-Color =
|Week11-2 = Ohio State (8–0–1) (21)
|Week11-2-Color =
|Week11-3 = LSU (9–1) (1)
|Week11-3-Color = u
|Week11-4 = Texas (9–1)
|Week11-4-Color = u
|Week11-5 = Ole Miss (8–1) (1)
|Week11-5-Color = u
|Week11-6 = Colorado (8–1)
|Week11-6-Color = u
|Week11-7 = Minnesota (7–2)
|Week11-7-Color = d
|Week11-8 = Michigan State (7–2)
|Week11-8-Color =
|Week11-9 = Arkansas (8–2)
|Week11-9-Color =
|Week11-10 = Missouri (7–2–1)
|Week11-10-Color= npr
|Week11Dropped = {{ubl|Kansas}}
|Week12-1 = Alabama (10–0) (26)
|Week12-1-Color = nc
|Week12-2 = Ohio State (8–0–1) (20)
|Week12-2-Color =
|Week12-3 = Texas (9–1)
|Week12-3-Color = u
|Week12-4 = LSU (9–1) (1)
|Week12-4-Color = d
|Week12-5 = Ole Miss (9–1) (1)
|Week12-5-Color =
|Week12-6 = Minnesota (7–2)
|Week12-6-Color = u
|Week12-7 = Colorado (9–1)
|Week12-7-Color = d
|Week12-8 = Michigan State (7–2)
|Week12-8-Color =
|Week12-9 = Arkansas (8–2)
|Week12-9-Color =
|Week12-10 = Utah State (9–0–1)
|Week12-10-Color= npr
|Week12Dropped = {{ubl|Missouri}}
}}
Final Coaches Poll
The final UPI Coaches Poll was released prior to the bowl games, on December 5.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3lBYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=evcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6729%2C220534 |newspaper=Bend Bulletin |location=(Oregon) |agency=UPI |last=Joyce |first=Dick |title=Alabama No. 1 football team in final UPI poll |date=December 5, 1961 |page=3}}
Alabama received 18 of the 35 first-place votes; Ohio State received fifteen, Ole Miss one, and Colorado one.
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center" |
| Ranking
! Team ! Conference ! Bowl |
|---|
| 1
| Alabama | SEC | Won Sugar, 10–3 |
| 2
| Big Ten | none |
| 3
| LSU | SEC | Won Orange, 25–7 |
| 4
| Texas | Won Cotton, 12–7 |
| 5
| Ole Miss | SEC | Lost Cotton, 7–12 |
| 6
| Big Ten | Won Rose, 21–3 |
| 7
| Colorado | Lost Orange, 7–25 |
| 8
| Arkansas | Southwest | Lost Sugar, 3–10 |
| 9
| Big Ten | none |
| 10
| Skyline | Lost Gotham, 9–24 |
| rowspan=2|11
| Purdue | Big Ten | rowspan=2|none |
| Missouri
| Big Eight |
| 13
| SEC | Lost Gator, 15–30 |
| 14
| Duke | ACC | none |
| 15
| Kansas | Big Eight | Won Bluebonnet, 33–7 |
| 16
| Syracuse | Won Liberty, 15–14 |
| 17
| Wyoming | Skyline | rowspan=2|none |
| 18
| Big Ten |
| rowspan=2|19
| Independent | Lost Liberty, 14–15 |
| Penn State
| Independent | Won Gator, 30–15 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{NCAA football rankings navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1961 Ncaa University Division Football Rankings}}