In their eighth year head coach Earle Edwards, the Wolfpack compiled a 4–6 record (3–4 in conference games), tied for fifth place in the ACC, and were outscored by a total of 149 to 129.

[2] Senior quarterback Roman Gabriel set 22 NC State records, was selected as the 1961 ACC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American, and had his jersey retired (the first in program history) in a January 1962 ceremony.

The team played its home games at Riddick Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.

[17] Two NC State player were honored on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team.

Gabriel received first-team honors from the AP, UPI, and Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association (ACSWA).