The 1961 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the Big Eight Conference during the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jack Mitchell, the Jayhawks outscored their opponents 269 to 88. They finished the regular season at 6–3–1 (5–2 in Big 8, second), and won the Bluebonnet Bowl 33–7 over host Rice.