1981–82 NCAA football bowl games explained
| Season: | 1981 |
| Number Of Bowls: | 16 |
| Bowl Start: | December 12, 1981 |
| Bowl End: |
January 1, 1982 |
| Championship Bowl: | 1982 Orange Bowl |
| Championship Location: | Miami Orange Bowl,
Miami, Florida |
| Champions: | Clemson Tigers |
| Conference1: | Independents |
| Conference1 Teams: | 5 |
| Conference1 Wins: | 3 |
| Conference1 Losses: | 2 |
| Conference1 Ap Poll: | 4 |
| Conference2: | Big Eight |
| Conference2 Teams: | 5 |
| Conference2 Wins: | 2 |
| Conference2 Losses: | 3 |
| Conference2 Ap Poll: | 3 |
| Conference3: | SEC |
| Conference3 Teams: | 5 |
| Conference3 Wins: | 2 |
| Conference3 Losses: | 3 |
| Conference3 Ap Poll: | 2 |
| Conference4: | Big Ten |
| Conference4 Teams: | 4 |
| Conference4 Wins: | 2 |
| Conference4 Losses: | 2 |
| Conference4 Ap Poll: | 3 |
| Conference5: | Pac-10 |
| Conference5 Teams: | 4 |
| Conference5 Wins: | 1 |
| Conference5 Losses: | 3 |
| Conference5 Ap Poll: | 3 |
| Conference6: | SWC |
| Conference6 Teams: | 4 |
| Conference6 Wins: | 2 |
| Conference6 Losses: | 2 |
| Conference6 Ap Poll: | 2 |
| Conference7: | ACC |
| Conference7 Teams: | 2 |
| Conference7 Wins: | 2 |
| Conference7 Losses: | 0 |
| Conference7 Ap Poll: | 2 |
| Conference8: | WAC |
| Conference8 Teams: | 1 |
| Conference8 Wins: | 1 |
| Conference8 Losses: | 0 |
| Conference8 Ap Poll: | 1 |
| Conference9: | MAC |
| Conference9 Teams: | 1 |
| Conference9 Wins: | 1 |
| Conference9 Losses: | 0 |
| Conference9 Ap Poll: | 0 |
| Conference10: | PCAA |
| Conference10 Teams: | 1 |
| Conference10 Wins: | 0 |
| Conference10 Losses: | 1 |
| Conference10 Ap Poll: | 0 |
The 1981–82 NCAA football bowl games were a series of post-season games played in December 1981 and January 1982 to end the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. A total of 16 team-competitive games,[1] and two all-star games, were played. The post-season began with the Independence Bowl on December 12, 1981, and concluded on January 16, 1982, with the season-ending Senior Bowl.
Schedule
| Date | Game | Site | Time
(US EST) | TV | Matchup
(pre-game record) | AP
pre-game
rank | UPI (Coaches)
pre-game
rank |
|---|
| 12/12 | Independence Bowl | Independence Stadium
Shreveport, Louisiana | | Mizlou | Texas A&M 33 (6–5) (SWC),
Oklahoma State 16 (7–4) (Big Eight) | NR
NR | NR
NR |
| 12/13 | Garden State Bowl | Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey | | Mizlou | Tennessee 28 (7–4) (SEC),
Wisconsin 21 (7–4) (Big Ten) | NR
NR | NR
NR |
| 12/18 | Holiday Bowl | Jack Murphy Stadium
San Diego, California | | ESPN | BYU 38 (10–2) (WAC Champion),
Washington State 36 (8–2–1) (Pac-10) | - 14
#20
| - 12
#18
|
| 12/19 | Tangerine Bowl | Orlando Stadium
Orlando, Florida | | Mizlou | Missouri 19 (7–4) (Big Eight),
Southern Miss 17 (9–1–1) (Independent) | NR
#18 | NR
#15 |
| 12/19 | California Bowl | Bulldog Stadium
Fresno, California | | Mizlou | Toledo 27 (8–3) (MAC Champion)
San Jose State 25 (9–2) (PCAA Champion) | NR
NR | NR
#20 |
| 12/26 | Sun Bowl | Sun Bowl Stadium
El Paso, Texas | | CBS | Oklahoma 40 (6–4–1) (Big Eight),
Houston 14 (7–3–1) (SWC) | NR
NR | NR
#19 |
| 12/28 | Gator Bowl[2] | Gator Bowl Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida | | ABC | North Carolina 31 (9–2) (ACC),
Arkansas 27 (8–3) (SWC) | - 11
NR
| - 9
#17
|
| 12/30 | Liberty Bowl | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, Tennessee | | USA | Ohio State 31 (8–3) (Big Ten co-Champion),
Navy 28 (7–3–1) (Independent) | - 15
NR
| - 14
NR
|
| 12/31 | Peach Bowl | Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta | 3:00 PM | CBS | West Virginia 26 (8–3) (Independent),
Florida 6 (7–4) (SEC) | NR
NR | NR
NR |
| 12/31 | Hall of Fame Classic | Legion Field
Birmingham, Alabama | 1:00 PM | Mizlou | Mississippi State 10 (7–4) (SEC),
Kansas 0 (8–3) (Big Eight) | NR
NR | NR
NR |
| 12/31 | Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl | Houston Astrodome
Houston, Texas | 8:00 PM | Mizlou | Michigan 33 (8–3) (Big Ten),
UCLA 14 (7–3–1) (Pac-10) | - 16
#19
| - 13
#16
|
| 1/1 | Cotton Bowl Classic[3] | Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas | 12:00 PM | CBS | Texas 14 (9–1–1) (SWC),
Alabama 12 (9–1–1) (SEC co-Champion) | - 6
#3
| - 5
#3
|
| 1/1 | Fiesta Bowl[4] | Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona | 1:30 PM | NBC | Penn State 26 (9–2) (Independent),
USC 10 (9–2) (Pac-10) | - 7
#8
| - 6
#7
|
| 1/1 | Rose Bowl[5] | Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California | 4:30 PM | NBC | Washington 28 (9–2) (Pac-10 Champion),
Iowa 0 (8–3) (Big Ten co-Champion) | - 12
#13
| - 10
#11
|
| 1/1 | Sugar Bowl[6] | Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana | 8:00 PM | ABC | Pittsburgh 24 (10–1) (Independent),
Georgia 20 (10–1) (SEC co-Champion) | - 10
#2
| - 8
#2
|
| 1/1 | Orange Bowl | Miami Orange Bowl
Miami | 8:00 PM | NBC | Clemson 22 (11–0) (ACC Champion),
Nebraska 15 (9–2) (Big Eight Champion) | - 1
#4
| - 1
#4
|
|
Notes and References
- Web site: 1981 College Football Bowl Games . December 24, 2018 . .
- News: N. CAROLINA WINS, 31-27, IN FOGBOUND GATOR BOWL . . December 29, 1981 . December 25, 2018.
- News: TEXAS TOPPLES ALABAMA BY 14-12 . The New York Times . January 2, 1982 . December 28, 2018 .
- News: PENN ST. TROUNCES U.S.C. BY 26-10 . The New York Times . January 2, 1982 . December 28, 2018 .
- News: Washington Wilts Iowa's Rose, 28-0 . . January 2, 1982 . December 24, 2018 .
- News: CLEMSON FINISHES UNBEATEN; PITT RALLY TOPS GEORGIA; TIGERS DEFEAT NEBRASKA FOR 12-0 RECORD . The New York Times . January 2, 1982 . December 24, 2018 .
