| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Texas Tech Red Raiders |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southwest Conference |
| Short Conf: | SWC |
| Record: | 4–6 |
| Conf Record: | 2–5 |
| Head Coach: | J. T. King |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | T formation |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Stadium: | Jones Stadium |
The 1961 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team was an American football team that represented Texas Technological College (now known as Texas Tech University) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1961 college football season. In their first season under head coach J. T. King, the Red Raiders compiled a 4–6 record (2–5 in conference games), tied for sixth place in the SWC, and were outscored by a combined total of 201 to 94.[1] [2] The Raiders won conference games over TCU and Baylor and non-conference games over Boston College and West Texas State.
The team played its home games at Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
Texas Tech gained an average of 172.0 rushing yards and 89.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 202.7 rushing yards and 102.9 passing yards per game.
The Red Raiders' rushing offense was led by Coolidge Hunt who gained 486 yards on 128 carries for a 3.8-yard average. Other significant contributors included Johnny Lovelace (282 yards, 89 carries, 3.2-yard average), Bill Worley (217 yards, 49 carries, 4.4-yard average), David Rankin (190 yards, 58 carries, 3.3-yard average), Bake Turner (185 yards, 41 carries, 4.5-yard average), and H.L. Daniels (144 yards, 45 carries, 3.2-yard average).
The passing offense was led by quarterbacks Doug Cannon (37-for-77, 442 yards, one touchdown, six interceptions) and Johnny Lovelace (28-for-69, 359 yards, no touchdowns, four interceptions). The only two players with more than five receptions were Bob Witucki (26 receptions, 335 yards) and David Parks (16 receptions, 209 yards)[3]
Back Coolidge Hunt received second-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) on the 1961 All-Southwest Conference football team. End David Parks received honorable mention.[4]