Wake Forest Demon Deacons football, 1980–89 Schedule 1981

| Date_ | Opponent | Location_ | Result_ | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/05/1981 | South Carolina | Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC | L 6-23 | 29300 |
| 09/12/1981 | North Carolina State | Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC | L 23-28 | 29000 |
| 09/19/1981* | at Auburn | Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL | W 24-21 | 63000 |
| 09/26/1981 | at Virginia Tech | Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA | L 14-30 | 42200 |
| 10/03/1981* | Appalachian State | Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC | W 15-14 | 24500 |
| 10/10/1981* | at #5 North Carolina | Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC | L 10-48 | 51692 |
| 10/17/1981* | Maryland | Groves Stadium • Winston-Salem, NC | L 33-45 | 24500 |
| 10/24/1981* | at Virginia | Scott Stadium • Charlottesville, VA | W 24-21 | 24222 |