1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season

The 1961 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) as part of the 1961 college football season.

Whittier compiled a perfect 9–0 record in the regular season, won the SCIAC championship, and lost to Linfield in the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs. In the 1961 small college football rankings, Whittier was ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches poll, No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 8 in the United Press International poll.

Whittier
The 1961 Whittier Poets football team represented Whittier College of Whittier, California. In their second year under head coach John Godfrey, the Poets compiled a perfect 9–1 record (4–0 against SCIAC opponents) and won the SCIAC championship. In the 1961 small college football rankings, Whittier was ranked No. 4 in the NAIA coaches poll, No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 8 in the United Press International poll.

Three Whittier players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SIAC football team: junior back Dick Skinner; junior end Stan Sanders; and senior guard Dave Okura.

Redlands
The 1961 Redlands Bulldogs football team represented University of Redlands of Redlands, California. In their third year under head coach Ted Runner, the Bulldogs compiled a 6–4 record (3–1 against SCIAC opponents) and finished second the SCIAC.

Four Redlands players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SCIAC football team: senior quarterback Roger Chaney; senior tackle Myron Tarkanian; senior guard Marshall Nixon; and senior center Rollin Grider.

Occidental
The 1961 Occidental Tigers football team represented Occidental College of Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. In their second year under head coach Vic Schwenk, the Tigers compiled a 6–2 record (2–2 against SCIAC opponents) and finished third in the SCIAC.

Three Occidental players were selected as first-team players on the 1961 All-SIAC team: junior back John Whitney; junior end Jerry Greenwalt; and senior tackle Mike Lewis.

Pomona
The 1961 Pomona Sagehens football team represented Pomona College of Claremont, California. In their third year under head coach Chuck Mills, the Sagehens compiled a 5–4 record (1–3 against SCIAC opponents) and finished fourth in the SCIAC. Senior back Pete Rodi was a first-team selection on the 1961 All-SCIAC team.

Claremont-Mudd
The 1961 Claremont-Mudd Stags football team represented Claremont College and Harvey Mudd College of Claremont, California. In their first year under head coach Jim Williams, the Stags compiled a 3–6 record (0–4 against SCIAC opponents) and finished last in the SCIAC.

All-conference selections
At the end of the season, the conference coaches selected the best players at each position to their 1961 all-SIAC football team.

First team
 * Quarterback - Roger Chaney, senior, Redlands
 * Backs - John Whitney, junior, Occidental; Pete Rodi, senior, Pomona; Dick Skinner, junior, Whittier
 * Ends - Jerry Greenwalt, junior, Occidental, and Stan Sanders Jr., Whittier
 * Tackles - Myron Tarkanian, senior, Redlands; Mike Lewis, senior, Occidental
 * Guards - Dave Okura, senior, Whittier; Marshall Nixon, senior, Redlands
 * Center - Rollin Grider, senior, Redlands