The 1961 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1961 college football season.
Led by sixth-year head coach Howard Fletcher, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 4–4–1 with a mark of 3–2–1 in conference play, tying for third place in the IIAC.
[1] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback George Bork with 841 passing yards, halfbacks Mickey Stevens with 225 rushing yards, end Rich Bader with 430 receiving yards, and halfbacks/fullback Gary Starns with 38 points scored.
[1] The team played its home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.
This college football 1960s season article is a stub.