1981 Nicholls State Colonels football team

The 1981 Nicholls State Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach Sonny Jackson, the Colonels compiled a record of 5–5–1. Nicholls State played home games at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

1981 Nicholls State Colonels football
Conference	Independent
Record	5–5–1
Head coach	Sonny Jackson (1st season)
Home stadium	John L. Guidry Stadium

1981 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 8 Lafayette			–					9	–	2	–	0
No. 7 Delaware ^			–					9	–	3	–	0
No. 6 Tennessee State ^			–					9	–	3	–	0
Southeastern Louisiana			–					8	–	3	–	0
Lehigh			–					8	–	3	–	0
Nicholls State			–					5	–	5	–	1
Northwestern State			–					4	–	6	–	0
Bucknell			–					4	–	6	–	0
Northeastern			–					3	–	7	–	0
James Madison			–					3	–	8	–	0
^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	Delta State	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 34–10
September 19	McNeese State	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	L 9–59	7,500
September 26	at Troy State	Veterans Memorial Stadium Troy, AL	L 23–26	7,500
October 3	Merchant Marine	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 45–3
October 10	Southern	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 56–14
October 17	Texas Southern	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 31–27
October 24	at Tennessee State	Dudley Field Nashville, TN	L 11–49	7,500
October 31	at Northeast Louisiana	Malone Stadium Monroe, LA	L 18–55	16,988
November 7	Northwestern State	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (NSU Challenge)	L 17–31
November 14	at Southeastern Louisiana	Strawberry Stadium Hammond, LA (River Bell Classic)	W 29–17
November 21	Southwest Missouri State	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	T 20–20