1961 Hoosier Conference football season

The 1961 Hoosier Conference football season was the season of college football played by the six member schools of the Hoosier Conference (HC) as part of the 1961 college football season. The 1961 Taylor Trojans and Anderson Ravens football teams tied for the conference championship. Each had an equal 4–1 conference record. Anderson defeated Taylor in head-to-head competition. Taylor had the stronger overall record at 8–1 (Anderson went 4–4 overall).^[1]

The 1961 Taylor Trojans football team represented Taylor University of Upland, Indiana. In their fifth year under head coach Bob Davenport, the team compiled an 8–1 record (4–1 against HC opponents) and tied for the Hoosier Conference championship. The team was led by Dave Kastelein, who scored 62 points to lead all Indiana college football players in scoring.

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The 1961 Anderson Ravens football team represented Anderson University of Anderson, Indiana. In their ninth year under head coach James Macholtz, the team compiled a 4–4 record (4–1 against HC opponents) and tied for the Hoosier Conference championship.

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The 1961 Hanover Panthers football team represented Hanover College of Hanover, Indiana. In their seventh year under head coach Leo H. Kelly, the team compiled a 3–6 record (3–2 against conference opponents) and finished in third place in the Hoosier Conference.

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The 1961 Indiana Central Greyhounds football team represented Indiana Central College (now known as University of Indiana of Indianapolis, Indiana. In their fourth and final year under head coach Jay Windell, the team compiled a 4–5 record (2–3 against conference opponents) and finished in fourth place in the Hoosier Conference.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Taylor	Indianapolis, IN	L 13–21		[2]
September 23	at Olivet*	Olivet, MI	L 6–22
September 30	Indiana State*	Indianapolis, IN	W 26–20		[17]
October 7	at Manchester (IN)	North Manchester, IN	W 20–14		[18]
October 14	Chicago Illini*	Indianapolis, IN	W 6–0		[19]
October 21	at Franklin (IN)	Franklin, IN	L 20–28
October 27	Anderson (IN)	Indianapolis, IN	W 7–0
November 4	at Hanover	Madison, IN	L 6–7
November 11	at Earlham*	Reid Field Richmond, IN	L 0–16	2,500	[20]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

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The 1961 Franklin Grizzlies football team represented Franklin College of Franklin, Indiana. In their fifth year under head coach Stewart Faught, the team compiled a 3–6 record (1–4 against conference opponents) and tied for fifth and last place in the Hoosier Conference.

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 16	Olivet*	Goodell Field Franklin, IN	L 7–27	600	[22]
September 23	Anderson (IN)	Goodell Field Franklin, IN	L 7–12		[23]
September 30	at Hanover	Madison, IN	L 19–20		[24]
October 7	Taylor	Goodell Field Franklin, IN	L 6–32		[25]
October 14	at Earlham*	Reid Field Richmond, IN	L 32–34		[26]
October 21	Indiana Central	Goodell Field Franklin, IN	W 28–20	2,000	[27]
October 28	at Manchester (IN)	North Manchester, IN	L 14–20		[28]
November 4	Georgetown (KY)*	Goodell Field Franklin, IN	W 20–12		[29]
November 11	at Rose Poly*	Terre Haute, IN	W 63–0		[30]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

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The 1961 Manchester Spartans football team represented Manchester University of North Manchester, Indiana. In their sixth and final year under head coach Eldred A. Weddle, the team compiled a 1–8 record (1–4 against conference opponents) and tied for fifth and last place in the Hoosier Conference.

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