The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A 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. It was also Iowa's first winning season since 1961. This time Iowa had a more difficult time, shutout by Don James's Washington Huskies , 28–0. The Hawkeyes finished the 1981 season at 8–4.