1961 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

The 1961 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in the Big Eight Conference during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. In their seventh season under head coach Cliff Speegle, the Cowboys compiled a 4–6 record (2–5 against conference opponents), tied for sixth place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 166 to 154.^[1][2]

1961 Oklahoma State Cowboys football
Conference	Big Eight Conference
Record	4–6 (2–5 Big 8)
Head coach	Cliff Speegle (7th season)
Home stadium	Lewis Field
Seasons ← 1960 1962 →

1961 Big Eight Conference football standings
v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Colorado $	7	–	0	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
No. 11 Missouri	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	2	–	1
Kansas	5	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	1
Oklahoma	4	–	3	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Iowa State	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Oklahoma State	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	6	–	0
Nebraska	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	6	–	1
Kansas State	0	–	7	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

On offense, the 1961 team averaged 15.4 points scored, 191.2 rushing yards, and 64.3 passing yards per game.^[3] On defense, the team allowed an average of 16.6 points scored, 151.8 rushing yards, and 84.7 passing yards per game^[4] The team's statistical leaders included Jim Dillard with 627 rushing yards, Mike Miller with 371 passing yards, Don Brewington with 215 receiving yards, and Bill McFarland with 42 points scored.^[5]

No Oklahoma State players were selected as first-team All-Big Eight Conference players.^[6]

The team played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.^[7]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
September 23	at Iowa State	Clyde Williams Field Ames, IA	L 7–14
September 30	at Colorado	Folsom Field Boulder, CO	L 0–24
October 7	Tulsa*	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK (rivalry)	W 26–0
October 14	Missouri	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK	L 0–10
October 21	Nebraska	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK	W 14–6
October 28	at Kansas	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	L 8–42
November 4	at Wichita*	Veterans Field Wichita, KS	L 13–25
November 18	Houston*	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK	W 28–24
November 25	Kansas State	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK	W 45–0
December 2	at Oklahoma	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (Bedlam Series)	L 13–21
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

After the season

Main article: 1962 NFL Draft

The 1962 NFL Draft was held on December 4, 1961. The following Cowboys were selected.^[8]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
4	51	Jim Dillard	Back	Baltimore Colts
7	98	Gary Cutsinger	Tackle	Green Bay Packers

References

1. "1961 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
2. "Oklahoma State Cowboy Football 2016 Guide" (PDF). Oklahoma State University. p. 173. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
3. 2016 Football Guide, p. 138.
4. 2016 Football Guide, p. 140.
5. 2016 Football Guide, pp. 168, 170.
6. 2016 Football Guide, p. 155.
7. 2016 Football Guide, pp. 217, 219.
8. "1962 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2021.