| 1981 NCAA Division II football season | |
|---|---|
| Regular season | August – November 1981 |
| Playoffs | December 1981 |
| National Championship | Palm Bowl Veterans Stadium McAllen, TX |
| Champion | Southwest Texas State |
The 1981 NCAA Division II football season, part of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division II level, began in August 1981, and concluded with the NCAA Division II Football Championship on December 12, 1981, at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium in McAllen, Texas. During the game's five-year stretch in McAllen, the "City of Palms", it was referred to as the Palm Bowl.
Southwest Texas State defeated North Dakota State in the championship game, 42–13, to win their first Division II national title.[1]
- ^ "1981 NCAA Division II National Football Championship Bracket" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 13. Retrieved January 4, 2014.