1981 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team

1981 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football
OVC champion
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Record12–2 (8–0 OVC)
Head coach
Home stadiumHanger Field
1981 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Eastern Kentucky $^ 8 0 012 2 0
No. 9 Murray State 5 3 08 3 0
Youngstown State 5 3 07 4 0
Tennessee Tech 4 4 06 5 0
Middle Tennessee 4 4 06 5 0
Western Kentucky 4 4 06 5 0
Akron 4 4 05 5 0
Austin Peay 3 5 05 5 0
Morehead State 0 8 01 9 0
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1981 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team represented Eastern Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 18th-year head coach Roy Kidd, the Colonels compiled an overall record of 12–2, with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, and finished as OVC champion. Eastern Kentucky advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game and were defeated by Idaho State.