| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Southern Illinois Salukis |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | IIAC |
| Record: | 7–3 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Carmen Piccone |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | McAndrew Stadium |
| Champion: | IIAC champion |
The 1961 Southern Illinois Salukis football team was an American football team that represented Southern Illinois University (now known as Southern Illinois University Carbondale) in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1961 college football season. Under third-year head coach Carmen Piccone, the team compiled a 7–3 record (5–1 against conference opponents) and won the IIAC championship.[1] The team played its home games at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.