The 1941 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos football team was an American football team that represented Santa Barbara State College (now known as the University of California, Santa Barbara) as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1941 college football season. In their first year under head coach Stan Williamson, the Gauchos compiled a 3–5–1 record (1–2 against CCAA opponents). The team played home games at La Playa Stadium in Santa Barbara, California.
Halfback/fullback Ernie Saenz was the team captain. Other key players included halfbacks Owen Van Buskirk and Hovis Bess, quarterback George James, fullback/guard Paul Siano, and centers Walt Ahlgren and Frankie Jones.[1]
A tenth game, scheduled for October 18 against the University of California Ramblers, was cancelled after the team physician found that nine of Santa Barbara's 24 players were unfit to play.[2]
Santa Barabara was ranked at No. 273 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System.[3]
Due to World War II, this was the last year of competition for Santa Barbara until 1946.
