In their third year head coach John Ralston, the Aggies compiled a 9–1–1 record (5–0–1 in conference games), tied with Wyoming for the Skyline championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 387 to 78.
Tackle Merlin Olsen won the Outland Trophy and was a consensus All-American.
Larscheid also tallied 178 receiving yards and led the team in scoring with 78 points on 13 touchdowns.
[17] Tackle Merlin Olsen received numerous awards at the end of the 1961 season: Five Utah State players received first-team honors on the official 1961 All-Skyline Conference football team chosen by a vote of the league's players.
The Utah State players receiving first-team honors were: halfback Tom Larscheid; end L. Aldridge; tackles Merlin Olsen and Clark Miller; and guard W. Redmond.