1981 Akron Zips football team

1981 Akron Zips football
Conference	Ohio Valley Conference
Record	5–5 (4–4 OVC)
Head coach	Jim Dennison (9th season)
Captain	Don Schutz Dennis Brumfield Brad Reese
Home stadium	Rubber Bowl

1981 Ohio Valley Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Eastern Kentucky $^	8	–	0	–	0			12	–	2	–	0
No. 9 Murray State	5	–	3	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
Youngstown State	5	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Tennessee Tech	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Middle Tennessee	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Western Kentucky	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Akron	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Austin Peay	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Morehead State	0	–	8	–	0			1	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1981 Akron Zips football team represented Akron University in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Led by ninth-year head coach Jim Dennison, the Zips played their home games at the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio. They finished the season with a record of 5–5 overall and 4–4 in OVC play to tie for fourth place.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 5	Middle Tennessee	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	L 7–10
September 12	at Eastern Michigan*	Rynearson Stadium Ypsilanti, MI	W 14–7
September 19	at Kent State*	Dix Stadium Kent, OH (Wagon Wheel)	L 6–17
September 26	at No. 5 Eastern Kentucky	Hanger Field Richmond, KY	L 0–37
October 3	Youngstown State	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH (Steel Tire)	L 7–34
October 10	at Tennessee Tech	Tucker Stadium Cookeville, TN	W 10–7
October 17	Morehead State	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	W 31–14
October 24	No. 4 Murray State	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	W 20–10
October 31	at Austin Peay	Clarksville Municipal Stadium Clarksville, TN	W 23–19
November 7	Western Kentucky	Rubber Bowl Akron, OH	L 14–19	6,002
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game