The 2021 Sul Ross Lobos football team represented Sul Ross State University during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the American Southwest Conference (ASC). The Lobos were led by eighth-year head coach John Pearce and played their home hames at Jackson Field in Alpine, Texas. The team finished with a record of 2âÂÂ7 to finish ninth in the ASC. The Lobos struggled on both sides of the ball throughout the season, with the offense getting shutout twice and the defense allowing 70+ points in two different games.
On November 30, just two weeks after the Lobos' season finale, Pearce announced that he would be resigning as the program's head coach. That same day it was announced that offensive coordinator Barry Derickson had been promoted to interim head coach.
On July 24, 2021, the university announced that offensive coordinator Kevin Canty died at the age of 37 due to complications from COVID-19. Valparaiso tight ends coach Barry Derickson was named the Lobos' new offensive coordinator.
Due to Canty's death and several positive COVID cases within the program, Sul Ross State announced that the football program would be suspending summer practices.
In the ASC preseason media poll, the Lobos were predicted to finish last out of ten teams in the conference.