| Year: | 1981 |
| Regular Season: | August–November 1981 |
| Playoffs: | December 5–19, 1981 |
| Championship: | Burlington Memorial Stadium Burlington, NC |
| Champions: | Elon (2) |
The 1981 NAIA Division I football season was the 26th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 12th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.
The season was played from August to November 1981 and culminated in the 1981 NAIA Division I Champion Bowl, played this year on December 19, 1981 at Burlington Memorial Stadium in Burlington, North Carolina (near the campus of Elon College).[1]
Defending national champion Elon defeated in the Champion Bowl, 3–0, to win their second NAIA national title.[2]
| Conference | Champion | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Intercollegiate | Central Arkansas | 6–0 | |
| Central States | Pittsburg State | 7–0 | |
| Evergreen | Oregon Tech | 5–0 | |
| NIC | Moorhead State (MN) | 6–0 | |
| Oklahoma | Northeastern State | 3–1 | |
| RMAC | New Mexico Highlands | 7–1 | |
| South Atlantic | Elon | 6–1 | |
| WVIAC | Concord (WV) Fairmont State | 7–1 | |
| WSUC | Wisconsin–Eau Claire | 8–0 |