The 1961 Sun Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game played on December 30, 1961, in El Paso, Texas, at Kidd Field (now Sun Bowl Stadium). The game featured the University of Missouri Tigers from the Big Eight Conference and the University of Georgia Bulldogs from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Missouri won the game with a final score of 20–13.
This edition of the Sun Bowl marked Missouri's first bowl appearance since 1956 and Georgia's first since 1952. The game was notable for being played in cold and windy conditions, which impacted offensive performance. Missouri's victory was supported by strong defensive play and a standout performance by halfback Johnny Roland, who contributed significantly through rushing and kick returns.
The Sun Bowl, established in 1935, is one of the oldest collegiate bowl games in the United States. The 1961 game was part of its ongoing tradition of matching teams from major conferences, typically from the Midwest or Plains states against teams from the South.