1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team Schedule Schedule

| Date_ | Opponent_ | Rank_ | Site | TV | Result_ | Attendance_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 31 | at Illinois | #16 | Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL |  | L 7-24 | 66877 |
| November 7 | Purdue |  | Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA |  | W 33-7 | 60114 |
| November 14 | at Wisconsin |  | Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI | ABC | W 17-7 | 78731 |
| November 21 | Michigan State | #19 | Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA |  | W 36-7 | 60103 |
| January 1 | vs. #12 Washington* | #13 | Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) | NBC | L 0-28 | 105611 |