In their tenth year under head coach Paul Pierce, the Bearkats compiled an 8–1 record (7–0 in conference games), won the LSC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 154 to 73.
[1] The team played its home games at Pritchett Field in Huntsville, Texas.
[1] The team was led on offense by quarterbacks Calvin Pope and Ken Wigington.
[1] Two Sam Houston players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Lone Star Conference football team: tackle Walter Dollar and guard Steve Shaver.
Five others received honorable mention: quarterback Calvin Pope; halfbacks Sammy McDonald and Larry May; fullback Albert Thompson; and center Pat Derrick.