| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Short Conf: | OVC |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Head Coach: | Jimmy Feix |
| Hc Year: | 14th |
| Captain: | Greg Gallas, Troy Snardon, Lamont Meacham |
| Stadium: | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium |
The 1981 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 14th-year head coach Jimmy Feix, the Hilltoppers compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 4–4 on conference play, tying for fourth in the OVC. The team's captains were Greg Gallas, Troy Snardon, Lamont Meacham.[1]