The 1981 Utah Utes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Utah as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth and final season under head coach Wayne Howard, the Utes compiled an overall record of 8–2–1 with a mark of 4–1–1 against conference opponents, tying for third place in the WAC. Home games were played on campus at Robert Rice Stadium in Salt Lake City.