1961 McNeese State Cowboys football team

1961 McNeese State Cowboys football
GSC co-champion
Conference	Gulf States Conference
Record	7–2 (4–1 GSC)
Head coach	Les DeVall (5th season)
Home stadium	Wildcat Stadium

1961 Gulf States Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana +	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
No. 10 McNeese State +	4	–	1	–	0			7	–	2	–	0
Northwestern State	3	–	2	–	0			7	–	3	–	0
Louisiana Tech	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Northeast Louisiana State	1	–	4	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana	0	–	5	–	0			2	–	8	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from NAIA poll

The 1961 McNeese State Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented McNeese State College (now known as McNeese State University) as a member of the Gulf States Conference (GSC) during the 1961 NCAA College Division football season. In their fifth year under head coach Les DeVall, the team compiled an overall record of 7–2 with a mark of 4–1 in conference play, tying for first place in the GSC.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Pensacola NAS*	Wildcat Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 24–6	6,000
September 30	Louisiana Tech	Wildcat Stadium Lake Charles, LA	L 16–21	7,500–8,000
October 7	Arlington State*	Wildcat Stadium Lake Charles, LA	L 19–22	5,500
October 14	at Northeast Louisiana State	Brown Stadium Monroe, LA	W 7–0	4,500
October 21	at Instituto Politécnico Nacional*	Estadio Olímpico Universitario Mexico City, MX	W 60–8	30,000
October 28	at Louisiana College*	Alumni Stadium Pineville, LA	W 7–6	6,000
November 4	at Northwestern State	Demon Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	W 28–14	7,000
November 11	Southeastern Louisiana	Wildcat Stadium Lake Charles, LA	W 21–8	7,400
November 18	at Southwestern Louisiana	McNaspy Stadium Lafayette, LA (rivalry)	W 25–0	6,000
*Non-conference game