Southern Oregon led the OCC in total offense with 3,037 yards, an average of 337.4 yards per game. Oregon Tech led the conference defensively, giving up an average of 256.1 yards per game in total defense and 152.7 yards per game in rushing defense.
The 1961 OCC all-conference team was led by Southern Oregon with seven players named to the first team and Oregon College of Education (OCE) with six first-team honorees. Southern Oregon quarterback Doug Olsen set new OCC records with 1,377 passing yards and 1,462 yards of total offense. OCE halfback Bob Pennel also set a new conference record with 864 rushing yards. Portland State's Bill White was the OCC scoring leader with 84 points. Southern Oregon end Howard Hartman was the OCC's leading receiver with 51 receptions for 631 yards.[3]
The 1961 Southern Oregon Red Raiders football team represented Southern Oregon College (now known as Southern Oregon University) of Ashland, Oregon. In their seventh year under head coach Al Akins, the team compiled a 5–4 record (4–0 against OCC opponents) and won the OCC championship.
Seven Southern Oregon players were named to the 1961 OCC all-conference team: quarterback Doug Olsen; fullback Al Barnes; ends Howard Hartman and Dave Hughes; defensive end Jess Munyon; linebacker John Buck; and defensive halfback Doyle Branson.[5]
Olsen set OCC records with 1,377 passing yards and 1,462 yards of total offense. End Howard Hartman was the OCC's leading receiver with 51 receptions for 631 yards.[3]
The 1961 Oregon College of Education Wolves football team represented Oregon College of Education (commonly referred to as "OCE", now known as Western Oregon University) of Monmouth, Oregon. In their sixth year under head coach Bill McArthur, the team compiled a 4–3–1 record (2–1–1 against OCC opponents) and finished in second place in the OCC.
Six OCE players were named to the 1961 OCC all-conference football team: halfback Bob Pennel; tackle Herb Harmann; center Francis Tresler; defensive end Frank Colburn; and defensive halfbacks Dick Wildfang.[5]
The 1961 Portland State Vikings football team represented Portland State College (now known as Portland State University) of Portland, Oregon. In their third and final year under head coach Hugh Smithwick, the team compiled a 3–5 record (2–2 against OCC opponents) and finished in third place in the OCC.
Four Portland State players were named to the 1961 OCC all-conference team: halfback Bill White; tackle Bob Williams; defensive tackle Mike Hafterson; and linebacker Bob Holcomb.[5]
The 1961 Oregon Tech Owls football team represented Oregon Tehnical Institute (now known as Oregon Institute of Technology) of Klamath Falls, Oregon. In their second year under head coach Rex Hunsaker, the team compiled a 4–4–1 record (1–2–1 against OCC opponents) and finished in fourth place in the OCC.
Four Oregon Tech players, all on defense, were selected to the 1961 OCC all-conference team: defensive tackle Jim Madden; guard W. Winterbottom; linebacker Jack Williams; and defensive halfbacks Andrew Cook.[5]
The 1961 Eastern Oregon Mountaineers football team represented Eastern Oregon College (now known as Eastern Oregon University) of La Grande, Oregon. In their seventh year under head coach Archie Dunsmoor, the team compiled a 1–7 record (0–4 against OCC opponents) and finished in last place in the OCC.
Eastern Oregon offensive guard Gordon Meyers was named to the 1961 OCC all-conference football team.[5]