| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Cincinnati Bearcats |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Head Coach: | Mike Gottfried |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Nippert Stadium |
The 1981 Cincinnati Bearcats football team represented University of Cincinnati during 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season.