1981 NCAA Division I-A football season
| 1981 NCAA Division I-A season | |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 137 |
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Michigan |
| Postseason | |
| Bowl games | 16 |
| Heisman Trophy | Marcus Allen (USC RB) |
| Champion(s) | Clemson (AP, Coaches, FWAA) |
| Division I-A football seasons | |
← 1980 1982 → | |
The 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the Clemson Tigers, unbeaten and untied, claiming the national championship after a victory over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. This was also the first year of the California Bowl, played in Fresno, California; this game fancied itself as a "junior" version of the Rose Bowl as it pitted the Big West Conference champion vs. the Mid-American Conference champion.