| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Ole Miss Rebels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Coachrank: | 5 |
| Aprank: | 5 |
| Record: | 9–2 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Johnny Vaught |
| Hc Year: | 15th |
| Stadium: | Hemingway Stadium Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium |
| Bowl: | Cotton Bowl Classic |
| Bowl Result: | L 7–12 vs. Texas |
The 1961 Ole Miss Rebels football team was an American football team that represented the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 college football season. In their 15th year under head coach Johnny Vaught, the Rebels complied a 9–2 record (5–1 in conference games), finished third in the SEC, shut out five opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 326 to 40. The Rebels finished the season ranked No. 5 in both the AP writers poll and UPI coaches poll and lost to No. 3 Texas, 12–7, in the 1962 Cotton Bowl. Having won national championships in 1959 and 1960, Ole Miss was favored in every game throughout the 1961 season.
The team scored an average of 29.6 points and gained an average of 487.1 yards of total offense per game. On defense, they held opponents to 3.6 points and 161.4 yards per game. Fullback Billy Ray Adams led the team in rushing (575 yards) and was a first-team pick on the 1961 All-America college football team. Quarterback Doug Elmore led the team in total offense (1,086 yards) and was seleted as a first-team All-American by the Central Press.
The team played its home games at Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Rebels averaged 262.8 rushing yards and 224.3 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up an average of only 89.3 rushing yards and 72.1 passing yards per game.[3]
The Rebels had three quarterbacks who had quarterback ratings over 147:
The Rebels also had ten backs who tallied at least 99 rushing yards. They were led by Billy Ray Adams (575 yards, 91 carries, 6.3 yards per carry), Doug Elmore (345 yards, 77 carries, 4.5 yards per carry), Buck Randall (200 yards, 48 carries, 4.2 yards per carry), Art Doty (182 yards, 35 carries, 5.2 yards per carry), and Perry Lee Dunn (175 yards, 39 carries, 4.5 yards per carry).[3]
The team also had ten players with at least 100 receiving yards. The group was led by Catfish Smith (14 receptions, 254 yards), Billy Ray Adams (11 receptions 198 yards), Wesley Sullivan (nine receptions, 163 yards), Willis Dabbs (seven receptions, 155 yards), and A.J. Holloway (14 receptions, 148 yards).[3]
Billy Ray Adams led the team in scoring with 54 points on nine touchdowns.[3]
Four Ole Miss players were recognized on the 1961 All-America college football team:
Six players were honored on the 1961 All-SEC football team: fullback Billy Ray Adams (AP-1 [halfback], UPI-1 [halfback]); tackle Jim Dunaway (AP-1, UPI-1); end Ralph Smith (AP-2, UPI-2); quarterback Doug Elmore (AP-2, UPI-2); guard Bookie Bolin (UPI-2); and guard Billy Ray Jones (AP-3, UPI-3).[5] [6] [7]