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1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl vs. #12 Washington, L 28–0
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 15
AP No. 18
1981 record 8–4 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach Hayden Fry (3rd year)
Offensive coordinator Bill Snyder (3rd year)
Defensive coordinator Bill Brashier (3rd year)
Home stadium Kinnick Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Big Ten football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#15 Ohio State + 6 – 2 – 0     9 – 3 – 0
#18 Iowa + 6 – 2 – 0     8 – 4 – 0
#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
#7 Nebraska at Iowa
1 2 3 4 Total
#7 Cornhuskers 0 0 0 7 7
• Hawkeyes 7 3 0 0 10
#6 UCLA at Iowa
1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Bruins 0 7 0 0 7
• Hawkeyes 7 0 3 10 20
  • Date: September 26
  • Location: Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game attendance: 60,004
#12 Iowa at #5 Michigan
1 2 3 4 Total
• #12 Hawkeyes 6 0 3 0 9
#5 Wolverines 0 7 0 0 7
Minnesota at #6 Iowa
1 2 3 4 Total
• Golden Gophers 0 9 0 3 12
Hawkeyes 0 0 10 0 10

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. It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by Don James's Washington Huskies, 28–0. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.

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

In 1981, Iowa played eight conference games, missing one opponent.The government of Iowa mandated that they resume their series with Iowa State.
Iowa did not play Ohio State in 1981; OSU was also 8-3 and 6-2 in the Big Ten to tie for the conference title. The Buckeyes won their bowl game, the 1981 Liberty Bowl over Navy, and finished at 9-3.

The Hawkeyes won 9-7 at #5 Michigan, their third victory over a top ten team during the 1981 season. It was Iowa's first victory over the Wolverines since 1962.

Iowa earns first Rose Bowl since 1958 with Michigan's loss to Ohio State, which was announced with 6:14 left in the first quarter.

Statistics


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