View source for Arkansas Razorbacks football, 1980–89 | American Football Database

===Overview===
The biggest win of the year was against a #1 Texas team, which the Razorbacks were rivals with already. Although unranked, the Razorbacks came out on top by 31 points, removing Texas' #1 ranking. The Hogs received a [[Gator Bowl]] berth against a 10–2–0 North Carolina team ranked 11th, while the Hogs were unranked at the time.<ref>"1981 Bowl Recap with Top 20 Teams." <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0746983.html Gator Bowl.]</span> Information Please. Retrieved on August 14, 2007.</ref>
The SWC's champion, SMU, could not participate in a bowl game due to probation.<ref>"1981 Conference Champions." <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0746988.html Information Please Database.]<span> Information Please. Retrieved on December 9, 2007.</ref>

[[Defensive lineman]] [[Billy Ray Smith, Jr.|Billy Ray Smith]] was a consensus [[All-America]]n for Arkansas.<ref>"1981 Consensus All-Americans." <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.infoplease.com/ipsa/A0746995.html Information Please Database.]<span> Information Please. Retrieved on August 14, 2007.</ref> Bruce Lahay, a [[placekicker|kicker]], also received first-team honors. Lahay was in a three-way tie for field goals per game in 1981, hitting on 1.73 per game. This mark was also held by [[Kevin Butler (American football)|Kevin Butler]] of [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]] and Larry Roach of [[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma State]].