| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Missouri Tigers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Eight Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 8 |
| Coachrank: | 20 |
| Aprank: | 19 |
| Record: | 8–4 |
| Conf Record: | 3–4 |
| Head Coach: | Warren Powers |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Stadium: | Faurot Field |
| Champion: | Tangerine Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Tangerine Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 19–17 vs. Southern Miss |
The 1981 Missouri Tigers football team represented the University of Missouri as a member of the Big Eight Conference (Big 8) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Warren Powers, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 3–4 in conference play, placing fifth in the Big 8. Missouri was invited to the Tangerine Bowl, in which they defeated Southern Miss by a score of 19–17. The team played home game at Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri.
Missouri's first win versus Oklahoma since 1969.[2]