1961 Ohio Athletic Conference football season

The 1961 Ohio Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the 14 member schools of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), commonly referred to as the "Ohio Conference", as part of the 1961 college football season.

The Wittenberg Tigers, in their seventh season under head coach Bill Edwards, won the OAC championship with an 8–1 record (6–0 against OAC opponents). The team ranked fourth among small college teams with an average of 400.9 yards per game of total offense. The Tigers also ranked fifth nationally in total deffense, allowing an average of only 118.3 yards per game.

The Akron Zips, led by second-year head coach Bob Winterburn, finished in second place with a 6–2 record (6–1 against OAC opponents). Quarterback Joe Mackey led the team with 978 yards of total offfense, and fullback George Deo led the team with 860 rushing yards.

Wittenberg
The 1961 Wittenberg Tigers football team represented the Wittenberg University of Springfield, Ohio. In their seventh year under head coach Bill Edwards, the Tigers compiled an 8–1 record (6–0 against OAC opponents), wo the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 47.

Four Wittenberg players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-Ohio Conference football team: quarterback Gary Tranquill; defensive end and kicker Bill Carpenter; tackle Don Hunt; and safety Steve Heinzen.

Akron
The 1961 Akron Zips football team represented Akron University. In their first year under head coach Gordon K. Larson, the Zips compiled a 6–2 record (6–1 against OAC opponents), finished in second place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 185 to 57.

Several Akron players were selected as first-tea players on the 1961 All-OAC football team, including: fullback George Deo; linebacker Tom Lowry; safety Ed Lopeman; tackle Ron Ulrich; and end Ray Green.

Otterbein
The 1961 Otterbein Cardinals football team represented Otterbein University of Westerville, Ohio. In their seventh season under head coach Bob Agler, the Cardinals compiled a 8–1 record (5–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in third place in the OAC.

Muskingum
The 1961 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team represented Muskingum University of New Concord, Ohio. In their 17th season under head coach Ed Sherman, the Fighting Muskies compiled a 7–2 record (5–1 against OAC opponents) and finished in third place in the OAC.

Capital
The 1961 Capital Crusaders football team represented Capital University of Columbus, Ohio. The Crusaders compiled a 5–2–1 record ( 5–2–1 against OAC opponents),  finished in fourth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 137 to 94.

Wooster
The 1961 Wooster Fighting Scots football team represented the College of Wooster of Wooster, Ohio. In their 13th year under head coach Philip L. Shpe, the Fighting Scots compiled a 6–3 record (5–3 against OAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 148 to 75.

Ohio Wesleyan
The 1961 Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops football team represented the Wittenberg University of Delaware, Ohio. In their 16th year under head coach Glenn Fraser, the Battling Bishops compiled a 6–3 record (4–3 against OAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 166 to 139.

Kenyon
The 1961 Kenyon Lords football team represented Kenyon College of Gambier, Ohio. In their first year under head coach Arthur Lave, the Lords compiled a 3–4–1 record (2–4 against OAC opponents), finished in a three-way tie for eighth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 204 to 137.

Mount Union
The 1961 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team represented the University of Mount Union of Alliance, Ohio. In their sixth and final season under head coach Duke Barret, the Purple Raiders compiled a 3–6 record (2–5 against OAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 208 to 121.

Denison
The 1961 Denison Big Red football team represented Denison University of Granville, Ohio. In their eighth year under head coach Keith W. Piper, the Big Red compiled a 3–6 record (2–5 against OAC opponents), finished in tenth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 149 to 105.

Heidelberg
The 1961 Heidelberg Student Princes football team represented Heidelberg College of Tiffin, Ohio. In their second and final year under head coach Bob Winterburn, the Student Princes compiled a 1–7–1 record (1–4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in eleventh place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 159 to 68.

Hiram
The 1961 Hiram Terriers football team represented the Hiram College of Hiram, Ohio. In their third and final year under head coach Mike Koval, the Terriers compiled a 1–7 record (1–5 against OAC opponents), tied for twelfth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 229 to 71.

Oberlin
The 1961 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented Oberlin College of Oberlin, Ohio. In their fourth season under head coach J. William Grice, the Yeomen compiled a 2–5–1 record (1–5 against OAC opponents).

Marietta
The 1961 Marietta Pioneers football team represented the Marietta College of Marietta, Ohio. In their fifth year under head coach Kenneth A. Mead, the Pioneers compiled a 0–8–1 record (0–5–1 against OAC opponents), finished in last place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 223 to 101.