In their 15th season under head coach Ralph Ginn, the Jackrabbits compiled an 8–2 record (5–1 in conference games), tied for the NCC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 376 to 97.

The team played its home games at State Field in Brookings, South Dakota.

[12] Fullback Joe Thorne received second-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.

[13] Thorne and halfback Dan Boals of State College of Iowa were selected by the Associated Press (AP) as the most valuable players in the North Central Conference (NCC).

Six South Dakota State players were recognized by the AP or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1961 All-North Central Conference football team: Roger Eischens at end (AP-1, UPI-1); Mike Sterner at guard (AP-1, UPI-1); Thorne at fullback (AP-1, UPI-2); Ron Frank at tackle (AP-2, UPI-1); Dean Koster at quarterback (AP-1, UPI-honorable mention); and John Sterner at guard (AP-2, UPI-2).