Awards - 1961
| Award | Class | Player | Pos | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heisman Trophy | Sr | Ernie Davis | HB | Syracuse |
| Not an Award | Sr | Ernie Davis | HB | Syracuse |
| Sammy Baugh Trophy | Sr | Ron Miller | QB | Wisconsin |
| Maxwell Award | Sr | Bob Ferguson | FB | Ohio State |
| Outland Trophy | Merlin Olsen | T | Utah State | |
| Not an Award | Sr | Gary Collins | END | Maryland |
| Not an Award | Roman Gabriel | QB | North Carolina State | |
| Not an Award | Sr | John Hadl | Kansas | |
| Not an Award | Nick Buoniconti | G | Notre Dame |