1980 college football season

1980 college football season
Year	1980
Regular season	September 6 – December 6
Number of teams	484
Heisman	George Rogers
Ap poll 1	Georgia
Coaches poll 1	Georgia

1980 college football season was a memorable campaign that culminated with the Georgia Bulldogs capturing the national championship. The season was marked by the emergence of several powerhouse teams, a thrilling race for the Heisman Trophy, and significant coaching changes across the landscape. The postseason was highlighted by major bowl games that solidified the final rankings and set the stage for the coming decade in the sport.

Regular season

The regular season unfolded with several teams establishing themselves as national contenders. In the Southeastern Conference, Vince Dooley's Georgia team, led by freshman phenom Herschel Walker, ran through its schedule undefeated. The Big Ten Conference saw a fierce battle between Michigan and Ohio State, while in the Big Eight Conference, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Oklahoma Sooners were dominant forces. Independent powers like Notre Dame, Penn State, and Pittsburgh also played challenging schedules, with Dan Marino leading the Panthers to a strong record. A key late-season clash saw Florida State, coached by Bobby Bowden, defeat the Cornhuskers in a dramatic game at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Bowl games

The bowl season decided the national title, as the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs faced the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Herschel Walker's performance helped secure a 17-10 victory for Georgia, clinching the championship. In other major contests, the Rose Bowl featured Big Ten Conference champion Michigan falling to Pac-10 winner Washington. The Orange Bowl saw Oklahoma defeat Florida State, while the Cotton Bowl Classic was won by Alabama over Baylor. The Fiesta Bowl and Gator Bowl also hosted ranked matchups involving Penn State and Miami.

Conference standings

The Southeastern Conference was won by Georgia, with Alabama and Mississippi State also finishing highly. The Big Ten Conference title went to Michigan, edging out Ohio State and Purdue. In the Big Eight Conference, Oklahoma claimed the championship ahead of Nebraska and Oklahoma State. The Pac-10 was led by Washington, with USC and UCLA in pursuit. The Southwest Conference saw Baylor and Texas atop the standings, while the Atlantic Coast Conference champion was North Carolina.

Statistical leaders

Offensive statistics were dominated by South Carolina running back George Rogers, who led the nation in rushing and won the Heisman Trophy. Herschel Walker of Georgia was also among the rushing leaders in his first year. In passing, Mark Herrmann of Purdue led in yardage, while Dan Marino of Pittsburgh and Art Schlichter of Ohio State were also highly ranked. Receiving leaders included Ken Margerum of Stanford and Cris Collinsworth of Florida. On defense, players like Hugh Green of Pittsburgh and Lawrence Taylor of North Carolina posted impressive sack and tackle numbers.

Awards and honors

The Heisman Trophy was awarded to George Rogers of the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Maxwell Award for best all-around player went to Hugh Green of Pittsburgh, who also won the Lombardi Award as the top lineman. The Outland Trophy for best interior lineman was given to Mark May of Pittsburgh. The Walter Camp Award recognized Herschel Walker as the player of the year. Vince Dooley of Georgia earned several Coach of the Year honors, including the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award. Numerous players were named to All-America teams by the Associated Press and United Press International.

Coaching changes

The offseason saw significant turnover in head coaching positions across major programs. Johnny Majors left the Pittsburgh program to take over at his alma mater, the Tennessee Volunteers. He was replaced at Pittsburgh by Foge Fazio. At Florida, Charley Pell continued his rebuilding project, while Bill McCartney began his long tenure at Colorado. Other notable changes included Jackie Sherrill leaving Washington State for the Texas A&M Aggies, and Grant Teaff continuing his successful run at Baylor. These moves would have lasting impacts on the competitive landscape of NCAA Division I-A football in the 1980s.

Category:NCAA Division I FBS football seasons Category:1980 in American sports