| 1980 NCAA Division I-A football rankings | |
|---|---|
| Season | 1980 |
| Bowl season | 1980–81 bowl games |
| Preseason No.1 | |
| End of season champions | Georgia |
| Conference with most teams in final AP poll | Big Ten, Pac-10, SEC (3) |
| NCAA Division I-A football rankings
← 1979
1981 →
| |
Two human polls comprised the 1980 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A football rankings. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a national championship, instead that title is bestowed by one or more different polling agencies. There are two main weekly polls that begin in the preseason—the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.
| Increase in ranking | ||
| Decrease in ranking | ||
| Not ranked previous week | ||
| National champion | ||
(#–#)
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Win–loss record | |
(Italics)
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Number of first place votes | |
т
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Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |
| Preseason Aug 29[1] | Week 1 Sep 6[2] | Week 2 Sep 13[2] | Week 3 Sep 20[2] | Week 4 Sep 27[2] | Week 5 Oct 4[2] | Week 6 Oct 11[2] | Week 7 Oct 18[2] | Week 8 Oct 25[2] | Week 9 Nov 1[2] | Week 10 Nov 8[2] | Week 11 Nov 15[2] | Week 12 Nov 22[2] | Week 13 Nov 29[2] | Week 14 Dec 6[2] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3[3] | ||
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| 1. | Ohio State (36) | Ohio State (0–0) | Alabama (1–0) | Alabama (2–0) | Alabama (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Alabama (5–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Alabama (7–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | Georgia (9–0) | Georgia (10–0) | Georgia (10–0) | Georgia (11–0) | Georgia (11–0) | Georgia (12–0) (581⁄2) | 1. |
| 2. | Alabama (24) | Alabama (1–0) | Ohio State (1–0) | Ohio State (2–0) | Ohio State (3–0) | USC (4–0) | USC (5–0) | Texas (5–0) | UCLA (6–0) | Georgia (8–0) | USC (7–0–1) | Notre Dame (8–0–1) | Notre Dame (9–0–1) | Notre Dame (9–0–1) | Florida State (10–1) | Pittsburgh (11–1) (31⁄2) | 2. |
| 3. | Pittsburgh (3) | Pittsburgh (0–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Nebraska (2–0) | Nebraska (3–0) | Texas (4–0) | Texas (5–0) | UCLA (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Pittsburgh (10–1) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | USC (1) | Oklahoma (0–0) | USC (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | USC (3–0) | Pittsburgh (4–0) | UCLA (5–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Georgia (7–0) | USC (6–0–1) | Nebraska (8–1) | Nebraska (9–1) | Pittsburgh (10–1) | Pittsburgh (10–1) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Michigan (10–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Oklahoma (1) | USC (0–0) | Pittsburgh (1–0) | USC (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) | Notre Dame (4–0) | Georgia (6–0) | Florida State (7–1) | Nebraska (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Penn State (9–2) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) (1) | 5. |
| 6. | Arkansas | Texas (1–0) | Nebraska (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Georgia (5–0) | Florida State (6–1) | North Carolina (7–0) | Alabama (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–0–1) | Pittsburgh (9–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Baylor (10–1) | Alabama (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Nebraska | Notre Dame (1–0) | Texas (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Florida State (5–1) | North Carolina (6–0) | USC (5–0–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Michigan (9–2) | Baylor (10–1) | Notre Dame (9–1–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Houston | Nebraska (0–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Georgia (4–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | North Carolina (5–0) | USC (5–0–1) | Nebraska (6–1) | UCLA (6–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1) | Alabama (8–2) | Baylor (10–1) | Alabama (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Penn State (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Purdue | Houston (0–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Missouri (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Nebraska (5–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Pittsburgh (7–1) | Penn State (8–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Notre Dame (9–2–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Texas | Florida State (1–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Baylor (7–0) | Penn State (7–1) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Michigan (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | North Carolina (11–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Notre Dame | Michigan (1–0) | Stanford (2–0) | Penn State (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Florida State (4–1) | Pittsburgh (4–1) | Baylor (6–0) | Pittsburgh (6–1) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Michigan (7–2) | Baylor (9–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | Ohio State (9–2) | Ohio State (9–2) | USC (8–2–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Michigan | Georgia (1–0) | Penn State (1–0) | Missouri (2–0) | Oklahoma (1–1) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Texas (5–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Baylor (8–1) | USC (7–1–1) | BYU (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | USC (8–2–1) | BYU (12–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Florida State | Stanford (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Washington (2–0) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Baylor (5–0) | Penn State (5–1) | Penn State (6–1) | BYU (7–1) | BYU (8–1) | BYU (9–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | BYU (11–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | UCLA (9–2) | 13. |
| 14. | North Carolina | Penn State (1–0) | Michigan (10-3) | North Carolina (2–0) | Arkansas (2–1) | Penn State (3–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | North Carolina (7–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (8–2) | UCLA (8–2) | UCLA (9–2) | BYU (11–1) | Baylor (10–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Stanford | North Carolina (1–0) | Missouri (1–0) | Arkansas (1–1) | Stanford (3–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | South Carolina (5–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | Missouri (6–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | North Carolina (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | Ohio State (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Georgia | Arkansas (0–1) | Washington (1–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Missouri (4–1) | Missouri (5–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | Baylor (7–1) | Purdue (7–2) | Washington (8–2) | Mississippi State (9–2) | Mississippi State (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | Missouri | Missouri (0–0) | Arkansas (0–1) | Michigan 10-3) | Penn State (2–1) | South Carolina (4–1) | Oklahoma (2–2) | Oklahoma (3–2) | BYU (6–1) | Purdue (6–2) | UCLA (6–2) | Mississippi State (8–2) | USC (7–2–1) | USC (7–2–1) | Mississippi State (9–2) | Purdue (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Penn State | Auburn (0–0) | Houston (0–1) | Auburn (2–0) | South Carolina (3–1) | Baylor (4–0) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Washington (5–1) | Michigan (5–2) | SMU (6–2) | SMU (7–2) | UCLA (7–2) | Florida (7–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | South Carolina (8–3) | Miami (FL) (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Auburn | Washington (0–0) | Auburn (1–0) | Maryland (3–0) | Florida (3–0) | Missouri (3–1) | Iowa State (5–0) | BYU (5–1) | SMU (5–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Florida (7–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | SMU (8–3) | SMU (8–3) | Mississippi State (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Washington | Purdue (0–1) | South Carolina (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Baylor (3–0) | SMU (4–0) | Stanford (4–2) | Southern Miss (6–0) | Purdue (5–2) | Florida (6–1) | Florida (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | SMU (8–3) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | Miami (FL) (8–3) | SMU (8–4) | 20. |
| Preseason Aug 29[1] | Week 1 Sep 6[2] | Week 2 Sep 13[2] | Week 3 Sep 20[2] | Week 4 Sep 27[2] | Week 5 Oct 4[2] | Week 6 Oct 11[2] | Week 7 Oct 18[2] | Week 8 Oct 25[2] | Week 9 Nov 1[2] | Week 10 Nov 8[2] | Week 11 Nov 15[2] | Week 12 Nov 22[2] | Week 13 Nov 29[2] | Week 14 Dec 6[2] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 3[3] | ||
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| Preseason Preseason[4] | Week 1 Sep 6[5] | Week 2 Sep 13[6] | Week 3 Sep 20[7] | Week 4 Sep 27[8] | Week 5 Oct 4[9] | Week 6 Oct 11[10] | Week 7 Oct 18[11] | Week 8 Oct 25[12] | Week 9 Nov 1[13] | Week 10 Nov 8[14] | Week 11 Nov 15[15] | Week 12 Nov 22[16] | Week 13 Nov 29[17] | Week 14 Dec 6[18] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 4[19] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ohio State (21) | Ohio State (0–0) (21) | Alabama (1–0) (19) | Alabama (2–0) (22) | Alabama (3–0) (26) | Alabama (4–0) (39) | Alabama (5–0) (29) | Alabama (6–0) (36) | Alabama (7–0) (35) | Notre Dame (7–0) (29) | Georgia (9–0) (34) | Georgia (10–0) (36) | Georgia (10–0) (40) | Georgia (11–0) (35) | Georgia (11–0) (37) | Georgia (12–0) (36) | 1. |
| 2. | Alabama (14) | Alabama (1–0) (16) | Ohio State (1–0) (21) | Ohio State (2–0) (14) | Ohio State (3–0) (8) | USC (4–0) | USC (5–0) (7) | Texas (5–0) (2) | UCLA (6–0) (5) | Georgia (8–0) (11) | USC (7–0–1) (4) | Notre Dame (8–0–1) (4) | Notre Dame (9–0–1) (2) | Notre Dame (9–0–1) (2) | Florida State (10–1) (1) | Pittsburgh (11–1) (3) | 2. |
| 3. | Oklahoma (1) | Oklahoma (0–0) (1) | Oklahoma (1–0) | Nebraska (2–0) (5) | Nebraska (3–0) (8) | Pittsburgh (4–0) (2) | Texas (5–0) (3) | UCLA (5–0) (3) | Notre Dame (6–0) (2) | USC (6–0–1) (1) | Nebraska (8–1) (2) | Nebraska (9–1) (2) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Pittsburgh (10–1) (1) | Oklahoma (10–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Pittsburgh (5) | Pittsburgh (0–0) (3) | USC (1–0) | Oklahoma (1–0) | USC (3–0) | Texas (4–0) | UCLA (5–0) (2) | Notre Dame (5–0) (1) | Georgia (7–0) | Florida State (8–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Florida State (9–1) | Pittsburgh (9–1) | Pittsburgh (10–1) (1) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Michigan (10–2) (1) | 4. |
| 5. | USC | USC (0–0) | Texas (1–0) (1) | USC (2–0) | Texas (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) (1) | Notre Dame (4–0) (1) | Georgia (6–0) | Florida State (7–1) | Nebraska (7–1) (1) | Alabama (8–1) | Ohio State (9–1) | Penn State (9–1) | Oklahoma (9–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Florida State (10–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Houston | Texas (1–0) (1) | Nebraska (1–0) | Texas (2–0) | Pittsburgh (3–0) | Georgia (4–0) | Georgia (5–0) | Florida State (6–1) | North Carolina (7–0) | Alabama (7–1) | Ohio State (8–1) | Pittsburgh (9–1) | Oklahoma (8–2) | Michigan (9–2) | Alabama (9–2) | Alabama (10–2) | 6. |
| 7. | Nebraska (1) | Nebraska (0–0) | Pittsburgh (1–0) (1) | Notre Dame (2–0) (1) | Notre Dame (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Florida State (5–1) | North Carolina (6–0) | Nebraska (6–1) | Ohio State (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–0–1) (1) | Penn State (9–1) | Michigan (9–2) | Baylor (10–1) | Baylor (10–1) | Nebraska (10–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Arkansas | Notre Dame (1–0) | Notre Dame (1–0) | Pittsburgh (2–0) | Georgia (4–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | North Carolina (5–0) | Nebraska (5–1) | USC (5–0–1) | Pittsburgh (7–1) | Pittsburgh (8–1) | Baylor (9–1) | Baylor (10–1) | Alabama (9–2) | Notre Dame (8–1–1) | Penn State (10–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Texas | Houston (0–0) | Georgia (2–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Missouri (3–0) | Nebraska (3–1) | Nebraska (4–1) | USC (5–0–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | UCLA (6–1) | Penn State (8–1) | Oklahoma (7–2) | Alabama (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | North Carolina (11–1) | 9. |
| 10. | Purdue | Michigan (0–0) | Florida State (2–0) | Georgia (3–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Florida State (4–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Ohio State (5–1) | Pittsburgh (6–1) | Penn State (7–1) | Baylor (8–1) | Alabama (8–2) | Nebraska (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Penn State (9–2) | Notre Dame (9–2–1) | 10. |
| 11. | Michigan | Florida State (1–0) | Penn State (1–0) | Penn State (2–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Pittsburgh (4–1) | Pittsburgh (5–1) | Baylor (7–0) | Oklahoma (5–2) | Oklahoma (6–2) | Michigan (8–2) | North Carolina (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | North Carolina (10–1) | BYU (12–1) | 11. |
| 12. | Notre Dame | Penn State (1–0) | Michigan (1–0) | Missouri (2–0) | Oklahoma (1–1) | Oklahoma (2–1) | Penn State (4–1) | Penn State (5–1) | Texas (5–1) | Michigan (6–2) | Michigan (7–2) | USC (7–1–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | USC (8–2–1) | 12. |
| 13. | Penn State | North Carolina (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | Washington (2–0) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Miami (FL) (4–0) | Baylor (5–0) | Baylor (6–0) | Penn State (6–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | BYU (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | BYU (10–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | USC (8–2–1) | Baylor (10–2) | 13. |
| 14. | Stanford | Stanford (1–0) | Stanford (2–0) | UCLA (2–0) | Penn State (2–1) | Penn State (4–1) | South Carolina (5–1) | Arkansas (4–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | North Carolina (7–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | BYU (8–1) | UCLA (8–2) | BYU (11–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | UCLA (9–2) | 14. |
| 15. | Washington | Georgia (1–0) | Washington (1–0) | North Carolina (2–0) | South Carolina (3–1) | Baylor (4–0) | Arkansas (4–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | Missouri (6–1) | Baylor (7–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | South Carolina (8–2) | Washington (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | BYU (11–1) | Ohio State (9–3) | 15. |
| 16. | Florida State | Arkansas (0–1) | Missouri (1–0) | Arkansas (1–1) | Arkansas (2–1) | Stanford (4–1) | Iowa State (5–0) | Missouri (5–1) | Oklahoma (4–2) | BYU (7–1) | Purdue (7–2) | Mississippi State (8–2) | Mississippi State (9–2) | Mississippi State (9–2) | Washington (9–2) | Purdue (9–3) | 16. |
| 17. | North Carolina | Missouri (0–0) | UCLA (1–0) | Michigan (1–1) | Stanford (3–1) | South Carolina (4–1) | Missouri (4–1) | Oklahoma (3–2) | BYU (6–1) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Mississippi State (7–2) | Washington (8–2) | USC (7–2–1) | USC (7–2–1) | Mississippi State (9–2) | Washington (9–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Missouri | Washington (0–0) | South Carolina (2–0) | Arizona State (2–0) | Florida State (3–1) | Arkansas (3–1) | Oklahoma (2–2) | BYU (5–1) | Michigan (5–2) | Texas (5–2) | UCLA (6–2) | Texas (7–2) | Florida (7–2) | South Carolina (8–3) | South Carolina (8–3) | Miami (FL) (9–3) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Texas A&M (1–0) | Houston (0–1) | Miami (FL) (3–0) | Baylor (3–0) | Missouri (3–1) | Miami (FL) (4–1) | Washington (5–1) | Arkansas (4–2) | Purdue (6–2) | Texas (6–2) | UCLA (7–2) | SMU (8–3) | Maryland (8–3) | SMU (8–3) | Florida (9–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Georgia | South Carolina (1–0) | Arkansas (0–1) | Baylor (2–0) | Florida (3–0) | Iowa State (4–0) | BYU (4–1) | Southern Miss (6–0) | Purdue (5–2) | Florida (6–1) | Washington (7–2) | Florida (7–2) | Texas (7–3) | SMU (8–3) | Maryland (8–3) | SMU (8–4) | 20. |
| Preseason Preseason[4] | Week 1 Sep 6[5] | Week 2 Sep 13[6] | Week 3 Sep 20[7] | Week 4 Sep 27[8] | Week 5 Oct 4[9] | Week 6 Oct 11[10] | Week 7 Oct 18[11] | Week 8 Oct 25[12] | Week 9 Nov 1[13] | Week 10 Nov 8[14] | Week 11 Nov 15[15] | Week 12 Nov 22[16] | Week 13 Nov 29[17] | Week 14 Dec 6[18] | Week 15 (Final) Jan 4[19] | ||
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| Pre-divisional |
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| NCAA University Division |
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| NCAA Division I |
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| NCAA Division I-A/FBS |
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| NCAA Division I-AA/FCS |
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| Small college |
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| NCAA Division II |
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| NCAA Division III |
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| Polls |
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