1981 North Dakota State Bison football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1981 North Dakota State Bison football North Central Conference NCC 10–3 7–0 Don Morton 3rd Mike Daly 3rd Dacotah Field NCC champion NCAA Division II Championship Game L 13–42 vs. Southwest Texas State The 1981 North Dakota State Bison football team was an American football team that represented North Dakota State University during the 1981 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the North Central Conference. In their third year under head coach Don Morton, the team compiled a 10–3 record, finished as NCC champion, and lost to Southwest Texas State in the NCAA Division II Championship Game. Schedule 1981 NCAA Division II NCAA Division II Football Committee September 5 l y y Northern Michigan Memorial Field Marquette, MI 0–38 5,806 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86353541/wildcats-claw-nd-state-380/ Detroit Free Press Wildcats claw ND State, 38–0 September 6, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com September 12 l y y Northern Arizona NAU Skydome Flagstaff, AZ 17–23 11,750 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86353645/nau-holds-off-nd-state-for-2317-victo/ Arizona Daily Star NAU holds off N.D. State for 23–17 victory September 13, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com September 19 w y 1981 Northern Colorado Bears Northern Colorado Jackson Field Greeley, CO 17–7 1,987 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86353779/bison-drop-unc/ Rapid City Journal Bison drop UNC September 20, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com September 26 w 1981 North Dakota Fighting Sioux North Dakota 1 Dacotah Field Fargo, ND Nickel Trophy 31–7 14,100 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86383642/nellermore-stars/ Rapid City Journal Nellermore stars September 27, 1980 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com October 3 w y 1981 Morningside Chiefs Morningside Elwood Olsen Stadium Sioux City, IA 34–0 3,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86383825/north-dakota-state-trims-morningside/ The Des Moines Register North Dakota State trims Morningside October 4, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com October 10 w 1981 South Dakota State Jackrabbits South Dakota State Dacotah Field Fargo, ND rivalry 49–24 7,600 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86383953/north-dakota-st-beats-law-less-sdsu/ Argus-Leader North Dakota St. beats Law-less SDSU October 11, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com October 17 w 1981 Augustana University Vikings Augustana (SD) Dacotah Field Fargo, ND 21–14 9,250 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86384264/ndsu-holds-off-augustana/ Argus-Leader NDSU holds off Augustana October 18, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com October 24 w y 10 1981 South Dakota Coyotes South Dakota DakotaDome Vermillion, SD 43–7 6,800 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86384432/bison-beat-coyotes-claim-ncc-championsh/ Rapid City Journal Bison beat Coyotes, claim NCC championship October 25, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com October 31 w 9 1981 Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks Nebraska–Omaha Dacotah Field Fargo, ND 14–0 7,350 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86384576/n-dak-st-14-uno-0/ The Lincoln Star N. Dak St. 14, UNO 0 November 1, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com November 7 w y 8 1981 Simon Fraser Clan Simon Fraser Dacotah Field Fargo, ND 42–7 3,600 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86384762/bison-buries-clan/ The Province Bison buries Clan November 8, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com November 28 w y y 6 1981 Puget Sound Loggers Puget Sound 3 Highline Stadium Burien, WA 24–10 NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 4,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86385015/bison-veer-logger-mistakes-add-up-241/ The News Tribune Bison veer, Logger mistakes add up: 24–10, NDS November 29, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com December 5 w y y 6 1981 Shippensburg Raiders Shippensburg 8 Seth Grove Stadium Shippensburg, PA 18–6 NCAA Division II Semifinal 7,400 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86385179/north-dakota-state-eliminates-shippensbu/ Sunday-The Daily News North Dakota State eliminates Shippensburg December 6, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com December 12 l y y 6 Southwest Texas State 4 McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium McAllen, TX NCAA Division II Championship Game—Palm Bowl 13–42 9,415 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86385336/southwest-texas-reigns/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Southwest Texas reigns December 13, 1981 October 2, 2021 Newspapers.com Final 1981 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (North Dakota State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/493/stats/13169 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 8, 2022 References North Dakota State Category:North Dakota State Bison football seasons Category:North Central Conference football champion seasons North Dakota State Bison football