Record: 51-58-2, .468 W-L% (11th of 14) (Schedule and Results)
SRS: -8.60 (13th of 14) ▪ SOS: -7.57 (13th of 14)
Conference Champion: Toledo
Ranked in Preseason AP Poll: 0
Ranked in Final AP Poll: 0
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 12, 1981 | Sat | Western Michigan | 20 | @ | Kent State | 17 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 2 | Sep 19, 1981 | Sat | Central Michigan | 17 | Northern Illinois | 10 | ||
| 3 | Sep 19, 1981 | Sat | Ohio | 23 | Bowling Green State | 21 | ||
| 4 | Sep 19, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 40 | Ball State | 0 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 5 | Sep 26, 1981 | Sat | Miami (OH) | 18 | @ | Eastern Michigan | 12 | |
| 6 | Sep 26, 1981 | Sat | Ohio | 30 | Ball State | 27 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 7 | Oct 3, 1981 | Sat | Ball State | 23 | Northern Illinois | 0 | ||
| 8 | Oct 3, 1981 | Sat | Central Michigan | 63 | Eastern Michigan | 14 | ||
| 9 | Oct 3, 1981 | Sat | Miami (OH) | 20 | Kent State | 13 | ||
| 10 | Oct 3, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 21 | Ohio | 14 | ||
| 11 | Oct 3, 1981 | Sat | Western Michigan | 21 | @ | Bowling Green State | 7 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 12 | Oct 10, 1981 | Sat | Central Michigan | 15 | @ | Western Michigan | 13 | |
| 13 | Oct 10, 1981 | Sat | Kent State | 31 | Northern Illinois | 10 | ||
| 14 | Oct 10, 1981 | Sat | Miami (OH) | 7 | Bowling Green State | 7 | ||
| 15 | Oct 10, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 42 | @ | Eastern Michigan | 7 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 16 | Oct 17, 1981 | Sat | Bowling Green State | 17 | @ | Northern Illinois | 10 | |
| 17 | Oct 17, 1981 | Sat | Kent State | 17 | @ | Ball State | 7 | |
| 18 | Oct 17, 1981 | Sat | Miami (OH) | 20 | Western Michigan | 19 | ||
| 19 | Oct 17, 1981 | Sat | Ohio | 29 | Eastern Michigan | 7 | ||
| 20 | Oct 17, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 17 | Central Michigan | 3 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 21 | Oct 24, 1981 | Sat | Bowling Green State | 38 | Toledo | 0 | ||
| 22 | Oct 24, 1981 | Sat | Central Michigan | 24 | Kent State | 3 | ||
| 23 | Oct 24, 1981 | Sat | Miami (OH) | 40 | Ohio | 14 | ||
| 24 | Oct 24, 1981 | Sat | Northern Illinois | 30 | @ | Eastern Michigan | 7 | |
| 25 | Oct 24, 1981 | Sat | Western Michigan | 14 | Ball State | 3 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 26 | Oct 31, 1981 | Sat | Ball State | 35 | Eastern Michigan | 13 | ||
| 27 | Oct 31, 1981 | Sat | Bowling Green State | 13 | Kent State | 7 | ||
| 28 | Oct 31, 1981 | Sat | Central Michigan | 38 | @ | Ohio | 21 | |
| 29 | Oct 31, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 17 | Miami (OH) | 10 | ||
| 30 | Oct 31, 1981 | Sat | Western Michigan | 23 | @ | Northern Illinois | 12 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 31 | Nov 7, 1981 | Sat | Bowling Green State | 14 | @ | Ball State | 10 | |
| 32 | Nov 7, 1981 | Sat | Kent State | 13 | Eastern Michigan | 7 | ||
| 33 | Nov 7, 1981 | Sat | Miami (OH) | 7 | @ | Central Michigan | 3 | |
| 34 | Nov 7, 1981 | Sat | Northern Illinois | 38 | Ohio | 14 | ||
| 35 | Nov 7, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 28 | @ | Western Michigan | 14 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 36 | Nov 14, 1981 | Sat | Bowling Green State | 28 | @ | Eastern Michigan | 0 | |
| 37 | Nov 14, 1981 | Sat | Central Michigan | 28 | @ | Ball State | 7 | |
| 38 | Nov 14, 1981 | Sat | Miami (OH) | 30 | Northern Illinois | 3 | ||
| 39 | Nov 14, 1981 | Sat | Ohio | 37 | Western Michigan | 20 | ||
| 40 | Nov 14, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 17 | Kent State | 0 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 41 | Nov 21, 1981 | Sat | Central Michigan | 6 | @ | Bowling Green State | 3 | |
| 42 | Nov 21, 1981 | Sat | Ohio | 20 | @ | Kent State | 7 | |
| 43 | Nov 21, 1981 | Sat | Toledo | 31 | @ | Northern Illinois | 0 | |
| 44 | Nov 21, 1981 | Sat | Western Michigan | 38 | Eastern Michigan | 7 |