| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Syracuse Orangemen |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 4–6–1 |
| Head Coach: | Dick MacPherson |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Ike Bogosian, Joe Morris[1] |
| Stadium: | Carrier Dome |
The 1981 Syracuse Orangemen football team represented Syracuse University an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Dick MacPherson, the Orangemen compiled a record of 4–6–19. Syracuse played home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.