1981 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

1981 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football
MVC co-champion
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Record6–5 (5–1 MVC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLarry Coker (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorMike Knoll (2nd season)
Home stadiumSkelly Stadium
1981 Missouri Valley Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Drake + 5 1 0 10 1 0
Tulsa + 5 1 0 6 5 0
Southern Illinois 5 2 0 7 4 0
West Texas State 3 3 0 7 4 0
Wichita State 3 3 1 4 6 1
Indiana State 2 4 1 5 5 1
New Mexico State 1 5 0 3 8 0
Illinois State 0 5 0 3 7 0
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1981 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth year under head coach John Cooper, the Golden Hurricane compiled a 6–5 record (5–1 against conference opponents) and tied for the Missouri Valley Conference championship.

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Kenny Jackson with 806 passing yards, Brett White with 640 rushing yards, and John Green with 252 receiving yards. Head coach John Cooper was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.