The 2001 CIAU football season began on August 31, 2001, and concluded with the 37th Vanier Cup national championship on December 1 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, with the Saint Mary's Huskies winning their second championship. Twenty-four universities across Canada competed in CIAU football this season, the highest level of amateur play in Canadian football, under the auspices of the Canadian Interuniversity Athletics Union (CIAU).
The Vanier Cup is played between the champions of the Atlantic Bowl and the Churchill Bowl, the national semi-final games. This year, the winners of the Canada West conference Hardy Trophy hosted the Ontario conference's Yates Cup championship team for the Churchill Bowl. The winners of the Atlantic conference Loney Bowl championship hosted the Dunsmore Cup Quebec champion for the Atlantic Bowl.[3][4]
