| Year: | 1951 |
| Team: | Houston Cougars |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVC |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Conf Record: | 2–2 |
| Head Coach: | Clyde Lee |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Captain: | Gene Shannon, John O'Hara, Buck Miller |
| Stadium: | Rice Stadium |
| Champion: | Salad Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Salad Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 26–21 vs. Dayton |
The 1951 Houston Cougars football team was an American football team that represented the University of Houston in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1951 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach Clyde Lee, the team compiled a 6–5 record, finished fourth in the MVC, and defeated Dayton in the 1952 Salad Bowl. Gene Shannon, John O'Hara, and Buck Miller were the team captains.[1] The team was ranked at No. 63 in the 1951 Litkenhous Ratings.[2]
The team played its home games at Rice Stadium in Houston.