The 1961 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in the Big Eight Conference during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. In their seventh season under head coach Cliff Speegle, the Cowboys compiled a 4–6 record (2–5 against conference opponents), tied for sixth place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 166 to 154. No Oklahoma State players were selected as first-team All-Big Eight Conference players. The team played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.