The 2001 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University as a member of the Southland Football League during the 2001 NCAA Division I-AA football season.
Led by 20th-year head coach Ron Randleman, the Bearkats compiled and overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, sharing the Southland title with McNeese State.
Sam Houston State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Northern Arizona in the first round before losing to the eventual national champion, Montana, in the quarterfinals.
[1] The 2001 Bearkats offense scored 470 points while the defense allowed 322 points.
[2] Members of the 2001 Bearkats team that went on to play in the National Football League (NFL) include Keith Davis, Keith Heinrich, and Josh McCown.