| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Kansas Jayhawks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Eight Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 8 |
| Coachrank: | 15 |
| Record: | 7–3–1 |
| Conf Record: | 5–2 |
| Head Coach: | Jack Mitchell |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Stadium: | Memorial Stadium |
| Champion: | Bluebonnet Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Bluebonnet Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 33–7 vs. Rice |
The 1961 Kansas Jayhawks football team was an American football team represented the University of Kansas as a member of the Big Eight Conference (Big 8) during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jack Mitchell, the Jayhawks compiled a 6–3–1 record (5–2 in conference games), finished in second place in the Big 8, and outscored opponents by a total of 269 to 88. They were ranked No. 15 in the final AP writers poll and UPI coaches poll.
After starting the season 0–2–1, the Jayhawks won six consecutive games. Highlights of the season included a 10–0 victory over Oklahoma (the Jayhawks' first victory over the Sooners since 1946), a 34–0 victory over in-state rival Kansas State, a 53–7 road victory over California, and a 33–7 postseason victory over Rice in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Senior quarterback John Hadl led the team with 958 yards of total offense in the regular season and was selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) as a first-team All-American. He also received 33 first-place votes for the Heisman Trophy and was seventh in the balloting.
Kansas played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.
The team gained an average of 254.0 rushing yards and 75.1 passing yards per game during the regular season. On defense, Kansas gave up an average of 126.6 rushing yards and 112.4 passing yards per game.[1]
Quarterback John Hadl led the team with 958 yards of total offense. He completed 44 of 93 passes (47.3%) for 665 yards with seven touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 119.3 quarterback rating. He also had 293 rushing yards.[1]
Halfback Curtis McClinton was the team's leading scorer (60 points), leading receiver (nine receptions for 151 yards), and ranked second in rushing (516 yards, 122 carries, 4.2-yards average).[1]
Ken Coleman led the team in rushing yards (549 yards, 110 carries, 5.0-yard average), and Tony Leiker led the team in rushing yards per carry (27 carries for 248 yards, 9.2 yards per carry).[1]
Quarterback John Hadl was selected a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).[2] He was named to the second team by the United Press International (UPI) and the third team by the Associated Press (AP). He also received 33 first-place votes and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting.[3]
Four Kansas players were recognized by the AP or UPI on the 1961 All-Big Eight Conference football team: Hadl (AP-1, UPI-1); halfback Curtis McClinton (AP-1, UPI-1); guard Elvin Basham (AP-2, UPI-2); and center Kent Staub (AP-1, UPI-2).[4] [5]
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | Club |
| 1 | 10 | Quarterback | Detroit Lions | |
| Bert Coan | 7 | 85 | Running back | Washington Redskins |
| Roger McFarland | 20 | 274 | Back | San Francisco 49ers |