| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Marshall Thundering Herd |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Short Conf: | MAC |
| Record: | 2–7–1 |
| Conf Record: | 1–4 |
| Head Coach: | Charlie Snyder |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Captain: | Ralph May, Rucker Wickline |
| Stadium: | Fairfield Stadium |
The 1961 Marshall Thundering Herd football team was an American football team that represented Marshall University in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 1961 college football season. In its third season under head coach Charlie Snyder, the Thundering Herd compiled a 2–7–1 record (1–4 against conference opponents), finished in sixth place out of seven teams in the MAC, and was outscored by a total of 183 to 62. Ralph May and Rucker Wickline were the team captains.[1] Marshall played home games at Fairfield Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia.
Two Marshall players were selected by the conference coaches as first-team players on the 1961 All-MAC football team: halfback Millard Fleming and center Rucker Wickline. Fleming was a unanimous pick.[2]