The 1981 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Jerry Stovall, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 3–7–1, with a mark of 1–4–1 in conference play, and finished eighth in the SEC.^[1]

Their 3–7–1 record was their worst since going 3–7 in Paul Dietzel's second season of 1956. This mark for futility has been surpassed twice, 2–9 in 1992 and 3–8 in 1999.

LSU opened its season before Labor Day for the first time in school history, moving its game vs. Alabama from November 7 to September 5 at the request of ABC, which televised the game nationally in prime time. It was Crimson Tide coach Bear Bryant's last visit to Tiger Stadium.

The Tigers' second game, a 27–9 loss at Notre Dame, was Gerry Faust's inaugural outing as Fighting Irish coach. LSU returned to South Bend four years later and defeated Notre Dame 10–7 in what turned out to be Faust's last game at Notre Dame Stadium.

LSU's 48–7 loss to in-state rival Tulane was its second largest margin of defeat in the series, eclipsed only by a 46–0 shutout at home in 1948.

More information Date, Opponent ...

Date	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 5	No. 4 Alabama	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)	ABC	L 7–24	78,066	[2]
September 12	at No. 4 Notre Dame*	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN	Mizlou	L 9–27	59,075	[3]
September 19	Oregon State*	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		W 27–24	74,962	[4]
September 26	Rice*	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		W 28–14	71,869	[5]
October 3	Florida	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)		L 10–24	73,665	[6]
October 10	at Auburn	Jordan-Hare Stadium Auburn, AL (rivalry)		L 7–19	61,000	[7]
October 17	Kentucky	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		W 24–10	69,169	[8]
October 24	No. 20 Florida State*	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA		L 14–38	74,816	[9]
October 31	at Ole Miss	Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (rivalry)		T 27–27	46,324	[10]
November 14	Mississippi State	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)		L 9–17	71,303	[11]
November 28	at Tulane*	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Battle for the Rag)		L 7–48	71,546	[12]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

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