1961 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

The 1961 Mississippi State Maroons football team was an American football team that represented Mississippi State University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. In their sixth year under head coach Wade Walker, the team compiled an overall record of 5–5, with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, and finished 10th in the SEC.

1961 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	5–5 (1–5 SEC)
Head coach	Wade Walker (6th season)
Home stadium	Scott Field Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

1961 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Alabama +	7	–	0	–	0			11	–	0	–	0
No. 4 LSU +	6	–	0	–	0			10	–	1	–	0
No. 5 Ole Miss	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
No. 13 Georgia Tech	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Tennessee	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Florida	3	–	3	–	0			4	–	5	–	1
Auburn	3	–	4	–	0			6	–	4	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Georgia	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Mississippi State	1	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Tulane	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
Vanderbilt	1	–	6	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

After the season, Wade Walker was fired as head coach, but continued to be the athletic director.^[1] This was the first season that Mississippi State athletic teams were known as the Bulldogs.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 23	Texas Tech*	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS	W 6–0	33,000	^[3]
September 30	at Houston*	Rice Stadium Houston, TX	W 10–7	27,000	^[4]
October 7	at Tennessee	Shields–Watkins Field Knoxville, TN	L 3–17	31,600	^[5]
October 14	Arkansas State*	Scott Field Starkville, MS	W 38–0	20,000	^[6]
October 21	vs. Georgia	Grant Field Atlanta, GA	L 7–10	18,000	^[7]
October 28	at Memphis State*	Crump Stadium Memphis, TN	W 23–16	30,092	^[8]
November 4	at No. 4 Alabama	Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	L 0–24	39,000	^[9]
November 11	at Auburn	Legion Field Birmingham, AL	W 11–10	35,000	^[10]
November 18	at No. 4 LSU	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	L 6–14	58,000	^[11]
December 2	No. 5 Ole Miss	Scott Field Starkville, MS (Egg Bowl)	L 7–37	34,500	^[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[13]

References

1. Michael B. Ballard, Maroon and White: Mississippi State University, 1878–2003, p. 144, University Press of Mississippi, 2008, ISBN 1-57806-999-8.
2. "Mississippi State Traditions". HailState.com.
3. "Bulldogs turn back Raiders by 6–0". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 24, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Mississippi State trips Houston, 10–7". The Kilgore News Herald. October 1, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Vols turn back Maroons, 17–3". Asheville Citizen-Times. October 8, 1961. Retrieved April 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Miss. State tops Arkansas St. in big 38–0 clash". The Selma Times-Journal. October 15, 1961. Retrieved October 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Georgia over Maroons 10–7". The Decatur Daily. October 22, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Bulldogs too tough for Memphis State". The Birmingham News. October 29, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Alabama breaks Bulldogs, 24–0". The Commercial Appeal. November 5, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Gambling State nips Tigers, 11–10". The Birmingham News. November 12, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "LSU tames Mississippi State in thriller, 14–6". Lake Charles American-Press. November 19, 1961. Retrieved October 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Rebs close out in power show". The Birmingham News. December 3, 1961. Retrieved October 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "1961 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 11, 2023.