| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | State College of Iowa Panthers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | North Central Conference |
| Short Conf: | NCC |
| Record: | 7–2 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Stan Sheriff |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Captain: | Dan Boals |
| Captain2: | Carl Bowman |
| Captain3: | Bruce Wiegmann |
| Captain4: | Wendell Williams |
| Stadium: | O. R. Latham Stadium |
| Champion: | NCC co-champion |
The 1961 State College of Iowa Panthers football team, commonly known as "S.C.I.", was an American football team that represented Iowa State Teachers College (later renamed University of Northern Iowa) in the North Central Conference during the 1961 college football season. In their second season under head coach Stan Sheriff, the Panthers compiled a 7–2 record (5–1 in conference). They led the NCC until the final game of the season when they lost to South Dakota State, resulting in the two teams sharing the conference championship.
Guard and co-captain Wendell Williams was selected as a first-team player on the 1961 Little All-America college football team. Fullback and co-captain Dan Boals set a new school record with 1,003 rushing yards and was selected as one of the two outstanding backs in the NCC.
The team played its home games at O. R. Latham Stadium in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
The team set a new school record with 2,276 rushing yards. The effort was led by Dan Boals who set an individual school record with 1,003 rushing yards on 162 carries (6.19 yards per carry) and an NCC record with 738 rushing yards in conference games.[1] He also led the team in scoring with 79 points. Boals' 1,003 rushing yards ranked sixth nationally among small-college players.[2]
Quarterback Dave Cox also set a new school record with 15 touchdown passes.[1]
Halfback Howard Becker added 610 rushing yards on 102 carries (5.98 yards per carry) and scored 54 points.[3]
Fullback Dan Boals, end Carl Bowman, halfback Bruce Wiegmann, and guard Wendel Williams were the team's co-captains.[4]
Williams was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player on the 1961 Little All-America college football team. Boals received honorable mention.[5]
Three SCI players were included on the 1961 All-North Central Conference football team: Boals; Williams; and tackle Al Sonnenberg.[6] [7] Several other received second-team honors: quarterback Dave Cox; halfback Howard Becker; end Carl Bowman; and tackle Ken Kroemer. Boals and South Dakota State's Joe Thorne were named the NCC's outstanding backs.[8]
The following 24 players received varsity letters: