the 1961 iowa state cyclones football team represented iowa state university in the big eight conference during the 1961 ncaa university division football season. in their fourth year under head coach clay stapleton, the cyclones compiled a 5–5 record (3–4 against conference opponents), finished in fifth place in the conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 151 to 133. they played their home games at clyde williams field in ames, iowa.