# 1961 NAIA football season

The 1961 NAIA football season was the sixth season of college football sponsored by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The season was played from August to December 1961, culminating in the sixth annual NAIA Football National Championship, played this year at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, California. During its three years in Sacramento, the game was called the Camellia Bowl (separate from the present day bowl game with the same name in Montgomery, Alabama).
Pittsburg State defeated Linfield in the championship game, 12–7, to win their second NAIA national title and first since 1957.

## Conference standings

1961 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football standings :
| 1961 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 17 Arkansas Tech $ 6 –0 –18 –0 –1 Arkansas State Teachers 5 –2 –07 –3 –0 Southern Arkansas 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Harding 4 –3 –04 –5 –0 Henderson State 3 –3 –04 –6 –0 Ouachita Baptist 2 –3 –14 –4 –1 Arkansas A&M 1 –6 –02 –8 –0 Ozarks 0 –7 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Badger-Gopher Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Lakeland $ 4 –0 –04 –3 –1 Northland 3 –1 –04 –4 –0 Bethel (MN) 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Milton 1 –3 –04 –3 –0 Northwestern (WI) 0 –4 –01 –5 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1961 Carolinas Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 15 Lenoir Rhyne $ 6 –1 –08 –1 –1 Appalachian State 5 –1 –07 –3 –0 Newberry 4 –2 –05 –5 –1 East Carolina 4 –3 –05 –4 –1 Elon 3 –4 –04 –6 –0 Catawba 3 –4 –03 –7 –0 Western Carolina 2 –5 –04 –6 –0 Guilford 0 –7 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1961 Central Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 1/1 Pittsburg State $^ 5 –0 –011 –0 –0 Omaha 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Fort Hays State 3 –2 –04 –4 –1 St. Benedict's 2 –3 –02 –7 –0 Emporia State 1 –4 –01 –8 –0 Washburn 0 –5 –03 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participantRankings from NAIA poll and AP small college poll | 1961 College Conference of Illinois football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 14 Millikin $ 6 –0 –08 –0 –0 Carroll (WI) 5 –1 –06 –3 –0 Carthage 4 –2 –07 –2 –0 North Central (IL) 3 –3 –05 –4 –0 Augustana (IL) 2 –4 –05 –4 –0 Illinois Wesleyan 1 –5 –02 –7 –0 Lake Forest 0 –6 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Evergreen Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Central Washington $ 6 –1 –07 –2 –0 Whitworth * 6 –1 –0 ? – ? – ? Western Washington 4 –3 –05 –4 –0 Puget Sound 3 –3 –15 –3 –1 Pacific Lutheran 1 –5 –12 –6 –1 Eastern Washington 0 –7 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion * – on probation; ineligible for conference title |
| 1961 Far Western Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 13/16 Humboldt State + 4 –1 –08 –2 –0 San Francisco State + 4 –1 –08 –2 –0 UC Davis 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Nevada 2 –3 –05 –4 –0 Sacramento State 2 –3 –04 –5 –0 Chico State 0 –5 –04 –6 –0 + – Conference co-championsRankings from NAIA poll and UPI small college poll | 1961 Frontier Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Arizona State–Flagstaff $ 1 –0 –13 –5 –1 New Mexico Western 1 –1 –04 –5 –0 New Mexico Highlands 0 –1 –13 –3 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1961 Gulf States Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana + 4 –1 –09 –1 –0 No. 10 McNeese State + 4 –1 –07 –2 –0 Northwestern State 3 –2 –07 –3 –0 Louisiana Tech 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Northeast Louisiana State 1 –4 –03 –7 –0 Southwestern Louisiana 0 –5 –02 –8 –0 + – Conference co-championsRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1961 Iowa Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 12 Parsons $ 8 –0 –09 –0 –0 Luther 6 –2 –06 –3 –0 Central (IA) 5 –3 –06 –3 –0 Upper Iowa 5 –3 –06 –3 –0 Dubuque 4 –4 –05 –4 –0 Buena Vista 3 –5 –04 –5 –0 Iowa Wesleyan 3 –5 –03 –7 –0 Wartburg 2 –6 –02 –7 –0 Simpson 0 –8 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 16 Ottawa $ 9 –0 –09 –0 –0 College of Emporia 8 –1 –08 –1 –0 Southwestern (KS) 6 –2 –16 –2 –1 Baker 6 –3 –06 –3 –0 Bethany (KS) 3 –4 –23 –4 –2 Kansas Wesleyan 4 –5 –04 –5 –0 Bethel (KS) 3 –6 –03 –6 –0 McPherson 3 –6 –03 –6 –0 Sterling 1 –8 –01 –8 –0 Friends 0 –8 –10 –8 –1 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Mid-Ohio League football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Findlay $ 5 –0 –07 –3 –0 Ohio Northern 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 Bluffton 2 –3 –05 –3 –0 Defiance 2 –3 –03 –5 –0 Ashland 2 –3 –03 –6 –0 Wilmington (OH) 0 –5 –00 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1961 Midwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Cornell (IA) + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Grinnell + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 St. Olaf + 6 –2 –06 –2 –0 Carleton 5 –2 –15 –2 –1 Ripon 4 –3 –14 –3 –1 Coe 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Lawrence 4 –4 –04 –4 –0 Beloit 2 –6 –02 –6 –0 Knox 1 –7 –01 –7 –0 Monmouth (IL) 1 –7 –01 –7 –0 + – Conference co-champions | 1961 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 18 Minnesota–Duluth $ 7 –0 –08 –1 –0 Saint John's (MN) 5 –2 –06 –2 –0 St. Thomas (MN) 5 –2 –06 –3 –0 Macalester 4 –3 –06 –3 –0 Augsburg 3 –4 –04 –4 –0 Concordia (MN) 3 –4 –04 –5 –0 Gustavus Adolphus 1 –6 –02 –7 –0 Hamline 0 –7 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Missouri College Athletic Union football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 19 Missouri Valley $ 4 –0 –09 –0 –1 William Jewell 3 –1 –07 –3 –0 Graceland 3 –2 –05 –2 –2 Tarkio 2 –3 –02 –7 –0 Central (MO) 0 –2 –11 –6 –1 Culver–Stockton 0 –4 –11 –6 –2 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1961 Montana Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Western Montana $ 5 –0 –07 –1 –1 Eastern Montana 4 –1 –05 –3 –0 Carroll (MT) 2 –2 –14 –3 –1 Northern Montana 2 –3 –02 –5 –0 Rocky Mountain 1 –4 –0 ? – ? – ? Montana Mines 0 –4 –1 ? – ? – ? $ – Conference champion | 1961 Nebraska College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Peru State $ 5 –0 –17 –1 –1 Kearney State 4 –2 –07 –2 –0 Hastings 3 –2 –14 –4 –1 Doane 2 –2 –25 –2 –2 Wayne State (NE) 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Chadron State 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Nebraska Wesleyan 0 –6 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1961 North Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Mayville State $ 6 –0 –08 –0 –0 Wahpeton Science 4 –2 –06 –2 –0 Dickinson State 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Jamestown 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Minot State 3 –3 –04 –5 –0 Valley City State 1 –5 –01 –7 –0 Ellendale 0 –6 –00 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1961 Northern State College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Mankato State $ 5 –0 –06 –3 –0 Moorhead State 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Bemidji State 3 –2 –03 –6 –0 Winona State 2 –2 –14 –3 –1 Michigan Tech 1 –4 –01 –6 –1 St. Cloud State 0 –4 –11 –6 –1 $ – Conference champion | 1961 Northwest Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 3 Linfield $^ 5 –0 –010 –1 –0 Lewis & Clark 3 –2 –06 –3 –0 College of Idaho 3 –2 –05 –4 –0 Willamette 3 –2 –04 –4 –0 Whitman 1 –4 –01 –7 –0 Pacific (OR) 0 –5 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participantRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Oklahoma Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 9 Central State (OK) + 6 –1 –09 –1 –0 Langston + 6 –1 –08 –2 –0 No. 11 Panhandle A&M 4 –1 –09 –2 –0 East Central 3 –4 –05 –5 –0 SE Oklahoma State 2 –4 –04 –6 –0 Northeastern State 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 SW Oklahoma State 2 –5 –02 –8 –0 NW Oklahoma State 1 –6 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1961 Oregon Collegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Southern Oregon $ 4 –0 –05 –4 –0 Oregon College 2 –1 –14 –3 –1 Portland State 2 –2 –03 –5 –0 Oregon Tech 1 –2 –14 –4 –1 Eastern Oregon 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1961 Pennsylvania State College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T East Division No. 20 West Chester xy$ 4 –0 –07 –2 –0 East Stroudsburg 5 –1 –07 –1 –0 Bloomsburg 2 –2 –04 –4 –0 Millersville 2 –3 –05 –3 –0 Mansfield 2 –3 –04 –4 –0 Kutztown 2 –3 –02 –6 –0 Cheyney 0 –5 –00 –7 –1 West Division Slippery Rock xy 4 –1 –06 –3 –0 California (PA) 4 –1 –15 –2 –1 Clarion 4 –1 –15 –2 –1 Lock Haven 2 –2 –15 –2 –2 Edinboro 1 –3 –13 –4 –1 Indiana (PA) 1 –4 –02 –7 –0 Shippensburg 0 –4 –00 –8 –0 Championship: West Chester 21, Lock Haven 6 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsy – Championship game participantEdinboro forfeited to Clarion.Rankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Rocky Mountain Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Adams State $ 4 –0 –08 –2 –0 Colorado College 2 –2 –05 –3 –1 Western State (CO) 2 –2 –04 –5 –0 Colorado Mines 2 –2 –03 –6 –0 Colorado State–Greeley 0 –4 –01 –9 –0 $ – Conference champion |
| 1961 South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 6 Northern State $^ 6 –0 –09 –1 –0 Huron 5 –1 –07 –2 –0 Southern State 4 –2 –06 –3 –0 South Dakota Tech 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Black Hills 2 –4 –03 –5 –0 Dakota Wesleyan 2 –4 –02 –7 –0 General Beadle 0 –6 –02 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participantRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 4 Whittier $^ 4 –0 –09 –1 –0 Redlands 3 –1 –06 –4 –0 Occidental 2 –2 –06 –3 –0 Pomona 1 –3 –05 –4 –0 Claremont-Mudd 0 –4 –03 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion^ – NAIA playoff participantRankings from NAIA poll | 1961 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 5 Florida A&M $ 5 –0 –010 –0 –0 Alabama A&M 5 –0 –08 –1 –0 Allen 4 –2 –05 –4 –0 Bethune–Cookman 5 –2 –05 –3 –0 Morris Brown 4 –2 –05 –4 –0 Fisk 4 –2 –05 –4 –0 Tuskegee 4 –1 –14 –4 –1 Morehouse 3 –3 –04 –4 –0 Clark (GA) 2 –3 –13 –3 –2 Lane 1 –4 –02 –5 –1 Benedict 2 –4 –02 –7 –0 South Carolina State 2 –5 –02 –7 –0 Alabama State 1 –5 –01 –7 –0 Knoxville 1 –5 –01 –7 –0 Fort Valley State 0 –5 –00 –9 –0 $ – Conference championRankings from NAIA poll |
| 1961 Tri-State Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Midland $ 5 –1 –06 –2 –0 Dana 4 –2 –05 –3 –0 Westmar 4 –2 –04 –4 –0 Northwestern (IA) 3 –3 –03 –4 –1 Concordia (NE) 2 –4 –03 –6 –0 Yankton 2 –4 –05 –4 –0 Sioux Falls 1 –5 –01 –8 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1961 West Penn Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Westminster (PA) $ 4 –1 –06 –2 –0 Grove City 2 –0 –05 –4 –0 Waynesburg 2 –2 –06 –2 –0 Saint Vincent 2 –2 –03 –3 –1 Geneva 1 –2 –04 –4 –0 Carnegie Tech 0 –4 –01 –7 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1961 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Eastern Division Salem x 6 –2 –06 –3 –0 West Liberty State 5 –2 –06 –2 –0 Davis & Elkins 1 –5 –02 –5 –0 West Virginia State 0 –4 –00 –7 –0 Western Division West Virginia Wesleyan x$ 4 –1 –08 –1 –0 Glenville State 5 –2 –05 –2 –0 Fairmont State 4 –4 –04 –5 –0 Concord 3 –4 –05 –4 –0 Potomac State 1 –3 –02 –3 –0 West Virginia Tech 1 –3 –02 –5 –1 Non-qualifiers Bluefield State 1 –0 –03 –3 –1 Shepherd 1 –2 –04 –2 –2 Bethany (WV) 0 –1 –02 –5 –0 $ – Conference championx – Division champion/co-championsConference standings based on power ratings |
| 1961 Wisconsin State College Conference football standings vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T Stevens Point State $ 7 –1 –08 –1 –0 La Crosse State 5 –1 –05 –3 –0 River Falls State 4 –2 –05 –4 –0 Whitewater State 3 –3 –06 –3 –0 Superior State 2 –3 –13 –4 –2 Stout State 2 –3 –13 –4 –1 Eau Claire State 3 –5 –04 –5 –0 Oshkosh State 2 –4 –02 –4 –0 Milwaukee 2 –4 –02 –6 –0 Platteville State 1 –5 –01 –6 –0 $ – Conference champion | 1961 NAIA independents football records vteConfOverall TeamW L TW L T No. 2 Baldwin–Wallace   –  9 –0 –0 Wheaton (IL)   –  8 –0 –0 No. 8 Tampa   –  8 –1 –0 Earlham   –  7 –1 –0 Oklahoma Panhandle State   –  9 –2 –0 La Verne   –  7 –2 –0 Hillsdale   –  6 –3 –0 Eastern New Mexico   –  6 –4 –0 McMurry   –  6 –4 –0 St. Mary of the Plains   –  4 –5 –0 Georgetown (KY)   –  2 –3 –1 Austin   –  2 –7 –0 Rankings from NAIA poll |