The 1981 Iowa State Cyclones football team represented Iowa State University as a member of the Big Eight Conference during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season.
Led by third-year head coach Donnie Duncan, the Cyclones compiled an overall record of 5–5–1 with a mark of 2–4–1 in conference play, placing sixth in the Big 8.
Iowa State played home games at Cylcone Stadium in Ames, Iowa.
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