1981 Idaho State Bengals football team


The 1981 Idaho State Bengals football team represented Idaho State University in the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. A charter member of the Big Sky Conference, the Bengals were led by second year head coach Dave Kragthorpe and played their home games at the ASISU MiniDome, later renamed Holt Arena, an indoor venue on campus in Pocatello, Idaho.
Led by senior quarterback Mike Machurek, the Bengals won the Big Sky championship with a record, and were 9–1 overall in the regular season. In the eight-team NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, they won two home playoff games, then won their only national football championship to date in the Pioneer Bowl played in Wichita Falls, Texas. ISU defeated Eastern Kentucky, 34–23, to finish the season with a 12–1 record.

Schedule

The regular season finale against Weber State went to triple overtime.
The Big Sky introduced overtime for conference games the previous season, and this was its first-ever usage.

Roster

NFL Draft

Two Bengal seniors were selected in the 1982 NFL Draft, which lasted twelve rounds.
PlayerPositionRoundOverallFranchise
Mike MachurekQB6th154Detroit Lions
Case deBruijnP, PK8th214Kansas City Chiefs