The 1961 Pittsburg State Gorillas football team compiled a perfect 11–0 record, including a victory over Linfield in the Camellia Bowl to secure the NAIA national championship.
The 1961 Pittsburg State Gorillas football team compiled an 11–0 record, shut out seven of eleven opponents, and won the NAIA football national championship, the AP and UPI small college national championship, and the CIC championship.
End Paul Blazevich received second-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.
In their sixth season under head coach Wayne J. McConnell, the team compiled a 4–4–1 record (3–2 against CIC opponents) and finished in third place in the CIC.
In their ninth season under head coach Ivan Schottel, the team compiled a 2–7 record (2–3 against CIC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the CIC.