| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Oklahoma Sooners |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Eight Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 8 |
| Coachrank: | 14 |
| Aprank: | 20 |
| Record: | 7–4–1 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2–1 |
| Head Coach: | Barry Switzer |
| Hc Year: | 9th |
| Off Coach: | Galen Hall |
| Oc Year: | 9th |
| Off Scheme: | Wishbone |
| Def Coach: | Gary Gibbs |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Terry Crouch |
| Captain2: | Ed Culver |
| Captain3: | Johnnie Lewis |
| Champion: | Sun Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Sun Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 40–14 vs. Houston |
The 1981 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and competed as members of the Big Eight Conference. They were coached by head coach Barry Switzer. The Sooners defeated the Houston Cougars 40 - 14 to win the 1981 Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
See also: 1981 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team and Bedlam Series. Fred Sims scored three short-yardage touchdowns to lead Oklahoma to a 27–3 win over their instate rivals in a steady drizzle. Sims, who carried 23 times for 66 yards, scored on runs of two and five yards in the second quarter and a one-yard run in the third.[2]
See also: 1981 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[3]
| 3 | 67 | Bill Bechtold | Center | ||
| 5 | 113 | Terry Crouch | Guard | Baltimore Colts | |
| 8 | 207 | Mike Reilly | Linebacker | Los Angeles Rams | |
| 9 | 241 | Lyndle Byford | Tackle | Kansas City Chiefs |