The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the
University of Iowa in the
1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Hawks were 6–2 in conference play and were
Big Ten Conference co-champions. Iowa went to the
Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years. Their previous appearance in the 1958 season, when Iowa won the
1959 Rose Bowl. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by
Don James's
Washington Huskies, 28–0. It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.
Several Iowa players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:
Lou King led the conference with eight interceptions.[1]
Phil Blatcher ranked fourth in the conference with 708 rushing yards.[1]
Tom Nichol ranked fourth in the conference with 11 field goals made.[1]
Jeff Brown ranked fourth in the conference with 137 punt return yards and 6.5 yards per punt return.[1]
Quarterback Gordy Bohannon ranked 10th in the conference with 1,303 total yards.[1]
In 1981, Iowa played eight conference games, missing one opponent. The government of Iowa mandated that they resume their series with Iowa State. [citation needed] Iowa did not play
Ohio State in 1981; OSU was also 8-3 and 6-2 in the Big Ten to tie for the conference title. The Buckeyes won their
bowl game, the 1981
Liberty Bowl over
Navy, and finished at 9-3. Iowa was awarded the Rose Bowl berth because it had not been to Pasadena since the
1958 season, while Ohio State went
two years earlier.
The Hawkeyes won 9-7 at #5 Michigan, their third victory over a top ten team during the 1981 season. It was Iowa's first victory over the Wolverines since 1962.
The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the
University of Iowa in the
1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Hawks were 6–2 in conference play and were
Big Ten Conference co-champions. Iowa went to the
Rose Bowl for the first time in 23 years. Their previous appearance in the 1958 season, when Iowa won the
1959 Rose Bowl. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by
Don James's
Washington Huskies, 28–0. It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.
Several Iowa players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:
Lou King led the conference with eight interceptions.[1]
Phil Blatcher ranked fourth in the conference with 708 rushing yards.[1]
Tom Nichol ranked fourth in the conference with 11 field goals made.[1]
Jeff Brown ranked fourth in the conference with 137 punt return yards and 6.5 yards per punt return.[1]
Quarterback Gordy Bohannon ranked 10th in the conference with 1,303 total yards.[1]
In 1981, Iowa played eight conference games, missing one opponent. The government of Iowa mandated that they resume their series with Iowa State. [citation needed] Iowa did not play
Ohio State in 1981; OSU was also 8-3 and 6-2 in the Big Ten to tie for the conference title. The Buckeyes won their
bowl game, the 1981
Liberty Bowl over
Navy, and finished at 9-3. Iowa was awarded the Rose Bowl berth because it had not been to Pasadena since the
1958 season, while Ohio State went
two years earlier.
The Hawkeyes won 9-7 at #5 Michigan, their third victory over a top ten team during the 1981 season. It was Iowa's first victory over the Wolverines since 1962.