| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Mississippi State Bulldogs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Coachrank: | 17 |
| Record: | 8–4 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2 |
| Head Coach: | Emory Bellard |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Melvin Robertson |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | Scott Field Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium |
| Bowl: | Hall of Fame Classic |
| Bowl Result: | W 10–0 vs. Kansas |
The 1981 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by third-year head coach Emory Bellard, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 8–4, with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, and finished third in the SEC.