| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | MIAC |
| Record: | 8–1 |
| Conf Record: | 7–0 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Malosky |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Champion: | MIAC champion |
The 1961 Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented the University of Minnesota Duluth as a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jim Malosky, the Bulldogs compiled an 8–1 record (7–0 in conference games), won the MIAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 356 to 112.[1] [2]
The team scored 70 points against, breaking the Duluth single-game scoring record of 61 points set one year earlier against St Thomas. One week later, Minnesota-Duluth added 61 points against . Over the course of nine games, the team averaged 39.4 points per game, the second highest average in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) behind Florida A&M.[3]
Over the course of nine games, the Bulldogs tallied 3,268 yards of total offense (363 yards per game), consisting of 2,247 rushing yards and 1,021 passing yards. On defense they gave up 1,585 yards of total offense (176 yards per game).
Halfback John Nachtsheim ranked third in the NAIA with 112 points scored on 17 touchdowns and five two-point conversions.[4] The team's leading rushers were Nachtsheim (689 yards on 129 carries) and Bruce Johnson (674 yards on 110 carries). Quarterback Ed Lundstrom led the team in both passing yards (870) and total offense (1,107 yards).[5]
Minnesota-Duluth players took five first-team spots on the 1961 NAIA All-District 13 football team: John Nachtsheim are left halfback (offense); Ed Lundstrom at quarterback (offense); Tom Adams at left end (offense); Ron Kosteliz at left tackle (offense and defense).[6]