The
Wittenberg Tigers, in their seventh season under head coach
Bill Edwards, won the OAC championship with an 8–1 record (6–0 against OAC opponents). The team ranked fourth among small college teams with an average of 400.9 yards per game of
total offense. The Tigers also ranked fifth nationally in total deffense, allowing an average of only 118.3 yards per game.
The
Akron Zips, led by second-year head coach Bob Winterburn, finished in second place with a 6–2 record (6–1 against OAC opponents). Quarterback Joe Mackey led the team with 978 yards of total offfense, and fullback George Deo led the team with 860 rushing yards.[1]
The 1961 Wittenberg Tigers football team represented the
Wittenberg University of
Springfield, Ohio. In their seventh year under head coach
Bill Edwards, the Tigers compiled an 8–1 record (6–0 against OAC opponents), wo the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 47.[2]
Four Wittenberg players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-Ohio Conference football team: quarterback Gary Tranquill; defensive end and kicker Bill Carpenter; tackle Don Hunt; and safety Steve Heinzen.[3]
The 1961 Akron Zips football team represented
Akron University. In their first year under head coach
Gordon K. Larson, the Zips compiled a 6–2 record (6–1 against OAC opponents), finished in second place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 185 to 57.
Several Akron players were selected as first-tea players on the 1961 All-OAC football team, including: fullback George Deo; linebacker Tom Lowry; safety Ed Lopeman; tackle Ron Ulrich; and end Ray Green.
The 1961 Otterbein Cardinals football team represented
Otterbein University of
Westerville, Ohio. In their seventh season under head coach
Bob Agler, the Cardinals compiled a 8–1 record (5–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in third place in the OAC.
The 1961 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team represented
Muskingum University of
New Concord, Ohio. In their 17th season under head coach
Ed Sherman, the Fighting Muskies compiled a 7–2 record (5–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in third place in the OAC.
The 1961 Capital Crusaders football team represented
Capital University of
Columbus, Ohio. The Crusaders compiled a 5–2–1 record ( 5–2–1 against OAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 137 to 94.[7]
The 1961 Wooster Fighting Scots football team represented the
College of Wooster of
Wooster, Ohio. In their 13th year under head coach Philip L. Shpe, the Fighting Scots compiled a 6–3 record (5–3 against OAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 148 to 75.[8]
The 1961 Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops football team represented the
Wittenberg University of
Delaware, Ohio. In their 16th year under head coach
Glenn Fraser, the Battling Bishops compiled a 6–3 record (4–3 against OAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 166 to 139.[9]
The 1961 Kenyon Lords football team represented
Kenyon College of
Gambier, Ohio. In their first year under head coach Arthur Lave, the Lords compiled a 3–4–1 record (2–4 against OAC opponents), finished in a three-way tie for eighth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 204 to 137.[10]
The 1961 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team represented the
University of Mount Union of
Alliance, Ohio. In their sixth and final season under head coach Duke Barret, the Purple Raiders compiled a 3–6 record (2–5 against OAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 208 to 121.[11]
The 1961 Denison Big Red football team represented
Denison University of
Granville, Ohio. In their eighth year under head coach
Keith W. Piper, the Big Red compiled a 3–6 record (2–5 against OAC opponents), finished in tenth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 149 to 105.[12]
The 1961 Heidelberg Student Princes football team represented
Heidelberg College of
Tiffin, Ohio. In their second and final year under head coach
Bob Winterburn, the Student Princes compiled a 1–7–1 record (1–4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in eleventh place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 159 to 68.
The 1961 Hiram Terriers football team represented the
Hiram College of
Hiram, Ohio. In their third and final year under head coach
Mike Koval, the Terriers compiled a 1–7 record (1–5 against OAC opponents), tied for twelfth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 229 to 71.[14]
The 1961 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented
Oberlin College of
Oberlin, Ohio. In their fourth season under head coach J. William Grice, the Yeomen compiled a 2–5–1 record (1–5 against OAC opponents).
The 1961 Marietta Pioneers football team represented the
Marietta College of
Marietta, Ohio. In their fifth year under head coach Kenneth A. Mead, the Pioneers compiled a 0–8–1 record (0–5–1 against OAC opponents), finished in last place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 223 to 101.[15]