In their fourth year under head coach Frank Broyles, the Razorbacks compiled an 8–3 record (6–1 in conference games), finished in a tie with Texas for the SWC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 183 to 97.
8 in the final United Press International (UPI) coaches poll and went on to lose to the undefeated national champion Alabama in the 1962 Sugar Bowl by a 10–3 score.
Lance Alworth was the only Arkansas player to receive first-team honors on the 1961 All-America football team.
He received the honor from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) for Look magazine.
[15] Firve Arkansas players were recognized by the AP or UPI on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team: Lance Alworth (AP-1, UPI-1); guard Dean Garrett (AP-1, UPI-1); end Jim Collier (AP-2, UPI-1); back George McKinney (AP_2); and tackle John Childress (AP-2).