The Aviation Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played at Welcome Stadium in Dayton, Ohio, on December 9, 1961, between the New Mexico Lobos and the Western Michigan Broncos.
The Broncos had finished tied for second in the Mid-American Conference.
Rutgers and The Citadel were asked to play in the game, but they both declined.
Bowling Green was considered to play, but they instead played in the Mercy Bowl, a fundraiser in memory of the members of the Cal Poly team members that died the year before, after playing Bowling Green.
Ohio was in the running as well, but they tied their last game against Western Michigan, 20–20.