| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | South Carolina State Bulldogs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | MEAC |
| Record: | 10–3 |
| Conf Record: | 5–0 |
| Aprank: | 3 |
| Head Coach: | Bill Davis |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Oliver Pough |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Bulldog Stadium |
| Champion: | Black college national champion MEAC champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal |
| Bowl Result: | L 12–42 vs. Idaho State |
The 1981 South Carolina State Bulldogs football team represented South Carolina State University) as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Bill Davis, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 10–3 and a mark of 5–0 in conference play, and finished as MEAC champions.