| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Fresno State Bulldogs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | California Collegiate Athletic Association |
| Short Conf: | CCAA |
| Coachrank: | 5 (UPI small college) |
| Aprank: | 3 (AP small college) |
| Record: | 10–0 |
| Conf Record: | 5–0 |
| Head Coach: | Cecil Coleman |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | Ratcliffe Stadium |
| Champion: | CCAA champion |
| Bowl: | Mercy Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 36–6 vs. Bowling Green |
The 1961 Fresno State Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented Fresno State College (now known as California State University, Fresno) as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1961 college football season. In their third year head coach Cecil Coleman, the Bulldogs compiled a perfect 10–0 record (5–0 in conference games), won the CCAA championship for the fourth consecutive year, and outscored opponents by a total of 256 to 119.
At the end of the season, Fresno State took part in a charity bowl game, the Mercy Bowl, against Bowling Green. The game was played as a fundraiser in memory of 16 Cal Poly Mustangs football players killed in a plane crash following a game against Bowling Green a year earlier.[1]
The team played its home games at Ratcliffe Stadium on the campus of Fresno City College in Fresno, California.
The team tallied 2,825 yards of total offense (313.9 yards per game), consisting of 1,798 rushing yards and 1,027 passing yards. On defense, the Bulldogs gave up 1,938 yards to opponents, including 1,069 rushing yards and 869 passing yards.
Quarterback Beau Carter led the team in passing, completing 43 of 86 passes (50%) for 557 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. He ranked second on the team in rushing with 480 yards on 59 carries. He also led the team in total offense with 981 yards ans scoring with 43 yards on six touchdowns, three extra point kicks, and a pair of two-point conversion runs.
Halfback Bill Kendrick led the team in rushing with 468 yards on 84 carries. End Gerald Houser led the team in receiving with 20 catches for 245 yards.[3]
Five Fresno State players were selected by the conference coaches as first-team players on the 1961 All-CCAA football team: back Bill Kendrick; tackles Montie Day and Sonny Biship; guard Doug Brown; and center J. R. Williams.[4]
The following were selected in the 1962 NFL draft.[5] [6]
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL Team | |
| Center | 10 | 138 | New York Giants | ||
| Bill Knocke | Halfback | 17 | 233 | Baltimore Colts | |
| Guard | 18 | 249 | Cleveland Browns | ||
| John Anabo | Quarterback | 19 | 263 | Cleveland Browns |
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | AFL Team | |
| Guard | 11 | 88 | San Diego Chargers | ||
| Center | 21 | 168 | San Diego Chargers |