| Game Name: | Liberty Bowl |
| Subheader: | 23rd Liberty Bowl |
| Year Game Played: | 1981 |
| Football Season: | 1981 |
| Date Game Played: | December 30 |
| Stadium: | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium |
| City: | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Visitor Name Short: | Ohio State |
| Visitor Nickname: | Buckeyes |
| Visitor Record: | 8–3 |
| Visitor Rank Ap: | 15 |
| Visitor Rank Coaches: | 14 |
| Visitor Coach: | Earle Bruce |
| Visitor Conference: | Big Ten |
| Visitor 1Q: | 10 |
| Visitor 2Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 3Q: | 7 |
| Visitor 4Q: | 7 |
| Home Name Short: | Navy |
| Home Nickname: | Midshipmen |
| Home Record: | 7–3–1 |
| Home Coach: | George Welsh |
| Home Conference: | Independent |
| Home 1Q: | 7 |
| Home 2Q: | 6 |
| Home 3Q: | 7 |
| Home 4Q: | 8 |
| Mvp: | Eddie Meyers (TB, Navy) |
| Odds: | Ohio State by 14 |
| Attendance: | 43,216 |
| Us Network: | USA Network/MetroSports |
| Us Announcers: | Harry Kalas, Joe Theismann, Johnny Holliday and Jeff Logan |
The 1981 Liberty Bowl, a college football postseason bowl game, was played on December 30, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The 23rd edition of the Liberty Bowl featured the Ohio State Buckeyes from the Big Ten Conference facing the independent Navy Midshipmen. Ohio State won the game, 31–28.[1]