1981 Kansas Jayhawks football team

The 1981 Kansas Jayhawks football team represented the University of Kansas in the Big Eight Conference during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their seventh season under head coach Don Fambrough, the Jayhawks compiled an 8–4 record (4–3 against conference opponents), tied for third place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 195 to 188.^[1][2] They played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas.

The team's statistical leaders included Frank Seurer with 1,199 passing yards, Garfield Taylor with 728 rushing yards, and Wayne Capers with 629 receiving yards.^[3] David Lawrence and Greg Smith were the team captains.^[2]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	at Tulsa*	Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK	W 15–11	36,824
September 12	Oregon*	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	W 19–10	33,840
September 26	Kentucky*	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	W 21–16	40,200	[4]
October 3	Arkansas State*	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	W 17–16	32,100	[5]
October 10	Oklahoma State	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	L 7–20	39,810
October 17	at Oklahoma	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	L 7–45	75,644
October 24	Kansas State	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS (rivalry)	W 17–14	51,600
October 31	at No. 12 Nebraska	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE (rivalry)	L 15–31	76,208
November 7	at Iowa State	Cyclone Stadium Ames, IA	W 24–11	49,720
November 14	Colorado	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS	W 27–0	31,500
November 21	Missouri	Memorial Stadium Lawrence, KS (Border War)	W 19–11	47,500
December 31	vs. Mississippi State*	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (Hall of Fame Classic)	L 0–10	41,672	[6]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game