1961 UCLA Bruins football team

1961 UCLA Bruins football
AAWU champion
Rose Bowl, L 3–21 vs. Minnesota
ConferenceAthletic Association of Western Universities
Ranking
APNo. 16
Record7–4 (3–1 AAWU)
Head coach
CaptainRon Hull
Home stadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
1961 Athletic Association of Western Universities football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 16 UCLA $ 3 1 07 4 0
USC 2 1 14 5 1
Washington 2 1 15 4 1
Stanford 1 3 04 6 0
California 1 3 01 8 1
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from AP poll

The 1961 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a member of the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU), commonly known at the time as the Big 5 Conference, during the 1961 college football season. In their fourth year under head coach Bill Barnes, the Bruins compiled a 7–4 record (3–1 in conference games), won the AAWU championship, outscored opponents by a total of 182 to 121, and were ranked No. 16 in the final Associated Press writers poll. They closed the season with a 21–3 loss to Minnesota in the 1962 Rose Bowl.

Ron Hull, who played at center on offense and linebacker on defense, was the team captain and a first-team All-American. The team's offensive leaders were Bobby Smith with 305 passing yards and 60 points scored; Mike Haffner with 696 rushing yards; and Kermit Alexander with 271 receiving yards.

The team played its home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.