1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 0–28 vs. Washington
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 18
Record8–4 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Snyder (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorBill Brashier (3rd season)
MVPMel Cole
CaptainTracy Crocker
Pete Gales
Bruce Kittle
Andre Tippett
Brad Webb
Home stadiumKinnick Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 15 Ohio State + 6 2 0 9 3 0
No. 18 Iowa + 6 2 0 8 4 0
No. 12 Michigan 6 3 0 9 3 0
Illinois 6 3 0 7 4 0
Wisconsin 6 3 0 7 5 0
Minnesota 4 5 0 6 5 0
Michigan State 4 5 0 5 6 0
Purdue 3 6 0 5 6 0
Indiana 3 6 0 3 8 0
Northwestern 0 9 0 0 11 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Hawks were 6–2 in conference play and were Big Ten Conference co-champions. Iowa went to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years. Their previous appearance in the 1958 season, when Iowa won the 1959 Rose Bowl. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by Don James's Washington Huskies, 28–0. It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.

Several Iowa players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Lou King led the conference with eight interceptions.[1]
  • Phil Blatcher ranked fourth in the conference with 708 rushing yards.[1]
  • Tom Nichol ranked fourth in the conference with 11 field goals made.[1]
  • Jeff Brown ranked fourth in the conference with 137 punt return yards and 6.5 yards per punt return.[1]
  • Quarterback Gordy Bohannon ranked 10th in the conference with 1,303 total yards.[1]
  1. ^ a b c d e "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.