The 2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.

The Bearkats were led by eighth-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium.

The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston , and Stephen F. Austin) and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference.

The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.

In addition, several Bearkats were selected to the preseason WAC Offense, Defense, and Special teams.