| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 5–4 |
| Conf Record: | 2–4 |
| Head Coach: | Jerry Burns |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Mvp: | Al Hinton |
| Captain: | Bill Van Buren, Wilburn Hollis |
| Stadium: | Iowa Stadium |
The 1961 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa in the 1961 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first year under head coach Jerry Burns, the Hawkeyes compiled a 5–4 record (2–4 in conference game), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten Conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 215 to 162. The team was ranked No. 1 in the AP poll at the start of the season but dropped out of the polls after losing four consecutive games.[1]
Senior tackle Al Hinton was selected as the team's most valuable player, and senior center Bill Van Buren was selected as a first-team All-American. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Matt Szykowny (1,078 passing yards), fullback Bill Perkins (380 rushing yards), end Cloyd Webb (426 receiving yards), and fullback Joe Williams (54 points scored).
The team played its home games at Iowa Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
See also: 1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
The 1961 Iowa Hawkeyes tallied 2,828 yards of total offense (314.2 yards per game), consisting of 1,509 rushing yards and 1,319 passing yards. On defense, they held opponents to 2,251 yards with 1,493 rushing yards and 858 passing yards.
Matt Szykowny replaced Wilburn Hollis at quarterback in the third game of the season, following an injury to Hollis. Szykowny completed 79 of 120 passes for 1,078 yards, seven touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Before being lost to injury, Hollis completed six of 15 passes for 130 yards; Hollis also gained 187 rushing yards on 35 carries for a 5.3-yard average.[4]
Halfback Larry Ferguson, a first-team All-American in 1960, was expected to be Iowa's lead back for 1961, but he was injured in the opening minutes of the season's first game, ending his season with 35 yards gained on only three carries.[5] In Ferguson's absence, Iowa's rushing leaders were junior fullback Bill Perkins (380 yards, 62 carries, 6.1-yard average), fullback Joe Williams (297 yards, 64 carries, 4.6-yard average), Sammie Harris (267 rushing yards, 76 carries, 3.5-yard average), and Paul Krause (208 yards, 33 carries, 4.7-yard average).[6] [4]
Sophomore end Cloyd Webb led the team in receiving with 25 catches for 426 yards and four touchdowns. Iowa's other leading receivers were Bill Whisler (18 receptions, 244 yards) and Felton Rogers (12 receptions, 121 yards).[6]
Joe Williams tallied 54 points on nine touchdowns and was the second highest scorer in the Big Ten. Iowa's other leading scorerrs were Matt Szykowny (46 points) and Cloyd Webb (24 points).[6]
Bill Van Buren was selected by both the Sporting News and the Central Press as the first-team center on the 1961 All-America college football team.
Sherwyn Thorson was selected by the Associated Press as a second-team guard on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Senior tackle Al Hinton from Saginaw, Michigan, was selected as the most valuable player on the 1961 Iowa team.[7]
Guard Sherwyn Thorson was selected by the AP as a second-tem player on the 1961 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
Bill Van Buren and Wilburn Hollis were the team captains.[7]
The following 31 players received major letters for their participation on the 1961 Iowa team:
See main article: 1962 NFL draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Back | 4 | 52 | Detroit Lions | |
| Guard | 7 | 87 | Los Angeles Rams | |
| Quarterback | 9 | 118 | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| End | 13 | 169 | Washington Redskins | |