| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Lamar Tech Cardinals |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Lone Star Conference |
| Short Conf: | LSC |
| Record: | 8–2–1 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2–1 |
| Head Coach: | James B. Higgins |
| Hc Year: | 9th |
| Stadium: | Greenie Stadium |
| Champion: | Tangerine Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Tangerine Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 21–14 vs. Middle Tennessee |
The 1961 Lamar Tech Cardinals football team represented Lamar State College of Technology—now known as Lamar University—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1961 college football season. Led by ninth-year head coach James B. Higgins, the Cardinals compiled an overall record of an 8–2–1 with a mark of 4–2–1 in conference play, placing third in the LSC. Lamar Tech was invited to the Tangerine Bowl, where the beat Middle Tennessee, 21–14.
Back Bobby Jancik received first-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.[1]