1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

The 1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State Teachers College (now known as Sam Houston State University) as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1961 college football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Paul Pierce, the Bearkats compiled an overall record of 8–1 with a mark of 7–0 in conference play, and finished as LSC champion.