| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Illinois Fighting Illini |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 7–4 |
| Conf Record: | 6–3 |
| Head Coach: | Mike White |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Mvp: | Tony Eason |
| Mvp2: | Kelvin Atkins |
| Mvp3: | Ron Ferrari |
| Mvp4: | Dan Gregus Mike Bass |
| Captain: | Greg Boeke |
| Captain2: | Ron Ferrari |
| Captain3: | Jack Squirek |
| Stadium: | Memorial Stadium |
The 1981 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1981 Big Ten season. In their second year under head coach Mike White, the Illini compiled a 7–4 record (6–3 in conference games), finished in three-way tie for third place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 288 to 287.[1]
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Tony Eason with 3,360 passing yards, running back Calvin Thomas with 390 rushing yards, and wide receiver Oliver Williams with 760 receiving yards.[2] Several Illinois players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Tony Eason threw three touchdown passes to set the Big Ten single season record. The two teams overall combined to throw 109 passes, breaking the conference mark set earlier in the year by Minnesota and Ohio State.[4]
