1961 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

1961 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Conference	Independent
1961 record	5–5
Head coach	Joe Kuharich (3rd year)
Captain	Norb Roy
Captain	Nick Buoniconti
Home stadium	Notre Dame Stadium (c. 59,075, grass)

1961 NCAA University Division independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#15 Rutgers			–					9	–	0	–	0
#17 Arizona			–					8	–	1	–	1
Memphis State			–					8	–	2	–	0
Villanova			–					8	–	2	–	0
#17 Penn State			–					8	–	3	–	0
#14 Syracuse			–					8	–	3	–	0
Holy Cross			–					7	–	3	–	0
Navy			–					7	–	3	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					7	–	4	–	0
Army			–					6	–	4	–	0
San Jose State			–					6	–	4	–	0
Xavier			–					6	–	4	–	0
Colgate			–					5	–	4	–	0
Detroit			–					5	–	4	–	0
Pacific			–					5	–	4	–	0
Houston			–					5	–	4	–	1
Notre Dame			–					5	–	5	–	0
Oregon State			–					5	–	5	–	0
Florida State			–					4	–	5	–	1
Boston University			–					4	–	5	–	0
Boston College			–					4	–	6	–	0
Oregon			–					4	–	6	–	0
Air Force			–					3	–	7	–	0
Pittsburgh			–					3	–	7	–	0
Washington State			–					3	–	7	–	0
Idaho			–					2	–	7	–	0
Dayton			–					2	–	8	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1961 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1961 college football season.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 30	Oklahoma		Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN	W 19-6	55,198
October 7	at Purdue		Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN (Shillelagh Trophy)	W 22-20	51,295
October 14	Southern California	#8	Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN (Jeweled Shillelagh)	W 30-0	50,427
October 21	at #1 Michigan State	#6	Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI (Megaphone Trophy)	L 7-17	76,132
October 28	Northwestern	#8	Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN (Rivalry)	L 10-12	59,075
November 4	Navy		Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN (Rivalry)	L 10-13	59,075
November 11	at Pittsburgh		Pitt Stadium • Pittsburgh, PA	W 26-20	50,527
November 18	#10 Syracuse		Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, IN	W 17-15	49,246
November 25	at Iowa		Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA	L 21-42	58,000
December 2	at Duke		Duke Stadium • Durham, NC	L 13-37	35,000|- style="background:#f9f9f9;"	#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.

Team players drafted into the NFL

Player	Position	Round	NFL Club
Joe Carollo	Tackle	2	Los Angeles Rams
Bob Bill	Tackle	2	New York Giants
Mike Lind	Fullback	5	San Francisco 49ers
John Powers	Tight End	9	Pittsburgh Steelers
Joe Perkowski	Back	13	Chicago Bears