In their fourth year under head coach Tim Crisp, the Lions compiled an 8–2 record (6–1 in conference games), sharded the OCC title with the 1961 Central State Bronchos, and outscored opponents by a total of 287 to 109.

Quarterback Donald Lee Smith led the NAIA in individual total offense with an average of 235.3 yards per game and was selected as a second-team player on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.

Langston set a new National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) record, allowing opponents to gain an average of only 81.2 yards per game.

[14] Quarterback Donald Lee Smith was selected by the Associated Press as a second-team player on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.

[16] Smith was also named back of the year in the OCC, and five Langston players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-OCC team: Smith at back; DeWitt Anderson and Randolph Furch at end; Roosevelt Nivens at offensive tackle; and Edison Harrington at defensive tackle.