The 1981 Bucknell Bison football team was an American football team that represented Bucknell University as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bob Curtis, the Bison compiled a 4–6 record. Ken Jenkins and Jeff Miller were the team captains. Bucknell played its home games at Memorial Stadium on the university campus in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.