The 1961 Valparaiso Crusaders football team represented Valparaiso University as a member of the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) during the 1961 college football season.
Led by 16th-year head coach Emory Bauer, the Crusaders compiled an overall record of 7–2 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, placing second in the ICC.
[1] Valparaiso’s senior halfback John Knight.was voted as the most valuable back in the ICC.
[2] He set a new ICC record with 686 rushing yards on 118 carries.
He also led the ICC in scoring with 44 points (five touchdowns, 14 conversions).