1981 Rhode Island Rams football team

1981 Rhode Island Rams football
Yankee Conference co-champion
ConferenceYankee Conference
Record6–6 (4–1 Yankee)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNiles Nelson (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorPete Adrian (6th season)
Home stadiumMeade Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Yankee Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Rhode Island +^ 4 1 0 6 6 0
No. T–10 UMass + 4 1 0 6 3 0
Boston University 3 2 0 6 5 0
No. T–10 New Hampshire 2 3 0 7 3 0
Connecticut 1 4 0 4 7 0
Maine 1 4 0 3 7 1
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1981 Rhode Island Rams football team represented the University of Rhode Island in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Bob Griffin and played their home games at Meade Stadium. They competed as a member of the Yankee Conference.

Finishing conference play with a 4–1 record, the Rams were named Yankee Conference co-champions with UMass. With their win over UMass, the Rams received the automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs, marking Rhode Island's first ever playoff appearance.