| Year: | 2021 |
| Team: | Northern Colorado Bears |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Sky Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Sky |
| Record: | 3–8 |
| Conf Record: | 2–6 |
| Head Coach: | Ed McCaffrey |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Max McCaffrey |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Scott Darnell |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Nottingham Field |
| Prev Year: | 2019 |
The 2021 Northern Colorado Bears football team represented the University of Northern Colorado as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Ed McCaffrey and played their home games at Nottingham Field.
On July 26, 2021, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Mustangs were predicted to finish in the Big Sky last in the media and twelfth in the coaches.[1]
| 1 | Weber State | (7) | |
| 2 | Montana | (3) | |
| 3 | Eastern Washington | (2) | |
| 4 | Montana State | (1) | |
| 5 | Sacramento State | (1) | |
| 6 | UC Davis | ||
| 7 | Northern Arizona | ||
| 8 | Idaho | ||
| 9 | Idaho State | ||
| 10 | Portland State | ||
| 11 | Southern Utah | ||
| 12 | Cal Poly | ||
| 13 | Northern Colorado |
| 1 | Weber State | (14) | |
| 2 | Montana | (4) | |
| 3 | Eastern Washington | (3) | |
| 4 | Montana State | (3) | |
| 5 | Sacramento State | ||
| 6 | UC Davis | ||
| 7 | Northern Arizona | ||
| 8 | Idaho | ||
| 9 | Idaho State | ||
| 10 | Portland State | ||
| 11 | Southern Utah | ||
| 12 | Northern Colorado | ||
| 13 | Cal Poly |
The Bears did not have any players selected to the preseason all-Big Sky team.[2]
Conference opponents not played this season: Cal Poly, Idaho, Idaho State, Portland State
See also: 2021 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
See also: 2021 Houston Baptist Huskies football team.
See also: 2021 Lamar Cardinals football team.
See also: 2021 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football team.
See also: 2021 Montana State Bobcats football team.
See also: 2021 Eastern Washington Eagles football team.
See also: 2021 UC Davis Aggies football team.
See also: 2021 Southern Utah Thunderbirds football team.
See also: 2021 Sacramento State Hornets football team.
See also: 2021 Montana Grizzlies football team.
See also: 2021 Weber State Wildcats football team.