1981 Wisconsin Badgers football team Schedule Schedule

| Date_ | Opponent_ | Rank_ | Site | Result_ | Attendance_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 12 | #1 Michigan |  | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | W 21–14 | 68733 |
| September 19 | #9 UCLA* | #20 | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | L 13–31 | 71496 |
| September 26 | Western Michigan* |  | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | W 21–10 | 67196 |
| October 3 | Purdue |  | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | W 20–14 | 68603 |
| October 10 | #18 Ohio State |  | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | W 24–21 | 78973 |
| October 17 | at Michigan State | #14 | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | L 14–33 | 67352 |
| October 24 | at Illinois |  | Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL | L 21–23 | 67413 |