1961 Idaho Vandals football team

The 1961 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1961 NCAA University Division football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Skip Stahley, the Vandals were an independent in the NCAA's University Division and went 2–7. Two home games were played on campus at Neale Stadium in Moscow, with one in Boise at old Bronco Stadium at Boise Junior College.

The Vandals suffered a seventh straight loss in the Battle of the Palouse with neighbor Washington State, blanked 0–34 in Pullman in mid-October. In the rivalry game with Montana, the Vandals regained the Little Brown Stein with a 16–14 win in the season finale at Boise.

In Idaho's seven losses, they were outscored 319 to 22, with three shutouts; the worst was a 69–0 rout by Utah State in a blizzard at Logan. Since the disbanding of the Pacific Coast Conference in the spring of 1959, Idaho's football teams had a .130 record in three seasons as an independent. Stahley had taken on the dual role of athletic director in July 1960; he stepped down as head football coach in January 1962, and his successor was Dee Andros, the line coach at Illinois, hired in February. Stahley continued as Idaho's AD until mid-1964, when he departed for a similar position at Portland State College.

All-Coast
Tight end Reggie Carolan was Idaho's only All-Coast selection, on the second team.

NFL Draft
One fifth-year senior from the 1961 Vandals was previously selected in the 1961 NFL Draft: