1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
Encyclopedia
The 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season saw Georgia take its first national title since World War II
.
The Georgia Bulldogs
starred freshman running back Herschel Walker
, who made his NCAA debut against Tennessee
. Down 15-2 at halftime, Georgia sent in Walker, the third string running back at the time, to try to light a spark. Walker ran over All-American safety Bill Bates, in a play that would set the tempo for the rest of his career.
This year's edition of Florida vs. Georgia Football Classic was won on a last minute 92 yard pass from Georgia's own endzone, known by the play by play call "Run, Lindsay, run!".
The Bulldogs ran through the rest of the season unscathed, beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Walker rushed for 150 yards against Notre Dame, a defense which had not given up a hundred yard game that whole season. He did this with a dislocated shoulder
.
The Pittsburgh Panthers
also had a stellar season, led by offensive tackle Mark May
. The team went 11-1 and finished ranked #2, finishing the season with a rout of South Carolina and Heisman Trophy
winner George Rogers
in the Gator Bowl
. 29 players from this team went on the play in the NFL.
Florida State
defeated #3 ranked Nebraska
on the Cornhuskers' home turf, and the following week defeated the #2 ranked Pitt Panthers
It was an unusual year for the Pac-10 as 5 of its 10 members were placed on probation by the conference (but not the NCAA) including traditional powers USC and UCLA, along with both Oregon schools and Arizona State. So half the conference was ineligible for bowl games and it was feared that the 4th or 5th place finisher would end up in the Rose Bowl. Ironically, USC and UCLA both got as high as #2 in the polls before being upset. As it turned out, the probation didn't matter as Washington won the conference outright with a 6-1 record.
This year's edition of the Holiday Bowl
was a classic as the BYU staged a fourth quarter comeback, led by future NFL star Jim McMahon
. Down 45-25 to SMU
with less than four minutes left, McMahon threw three touchdown passes, including a Hail Mary as time expired, caught in the endzone by Clay Brown
, despite being surrounded by three SMU defenders.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
starred freshman running back Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
, who made his NCAA debut against Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
. Down 15-2 at halftime, Georgia sent in Walker, the third string running back at the time, to try to light a spark. Walker ran over All-American safety Bill Bates, in a play that would set the tempo for the rest of his career.
This year's edition of Florida vs. Georgia Football Classic was won on a last minute 92 yard pass from Georgia's own endzone, known by the play by play call "Run, Lindsay, run!".
The Bulldogs ran through the rest of the season unscathed, beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Walker rushed for 150 yards against Notre Dame, a defense which had not given up a hundred yard game that whole season. He did this with a dislocated shoulder
Dislocated shoulder
A dislocated shoulder occurs when the humerus separates from the scapula at the glenohumeral joint. The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body and as a result is particularly susceptible to dislocation and subluxation. Approximately half of major joint...
.
The Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
also had a stellar season, led by offensive tackle Mark May
Mark May
Mark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
. The team went 11-1 and finished ranked #2, finishing the season with a rout of South Carolina and Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner George Rogers
George Rogers (American football)
George Washington Rogers is a former American football player who achieved distinction in both the college and professional ranks as a running back...
in the Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
. 29 players from this team went on the play in the NFL.
Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
defeated #3 ranked Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
on the Cornhuskers' home turf, and the following week defeated the #2 ranked Pitt Panthers
It was an unusual year for the Pac-10 as 5 of its 10 members were placed on probation by the conference (but not the NCAA) including traditional powers USC and UCLA, along with both Oregon schools and Arizona State. So half the conference was ineligible for bowl games and it was feared that the 4th or 5th place finisher would end up in the Rose Bowl. Ironically, USC and UCLA both got as high as #2 in the polls before being upset. As it turned out, the probation didn't matter as Washington won the conference outright with a 6-1 record.
This year's edition of the Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
was a classic as the BYU staged a fourth quarter comeback, led by future NFL star Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
. Down 45-25 to SMU
SMU Mustangs
The SMU Mustangs is the name of the athletic teams representing Southern Methodist University. The Mustangs participate in the NCAA's Division I as a member of Conference USA. In 2005, SMU accepted an invitation to the Western Division of Conference USA, and left the Western Athletic Conference...
with less than four minutes left, McMahon threw three touchdown passes, including a Hail Mary as time expired, caught in the endzone by Clay Brown
Clay Brown
Clay Brown is a former NASCAR driver. He was a part-time fixture in the sport in the mid-1990s.-Craftsman Truck Series:Brown just reappeared for a one-race deal in 2003, driving a second Xpress Motorsports truck at South Boston. Brown did well with the solid opportunity, qualifying 22nd. He would...
, despite being surrounded by three SMU defenders.
Rules changes for 1980
- Full arm extension on pass blocking allowed.
- Illegal use of hands penalty reduced to 5 yards.
Conference standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, Conf. = Conference Record| Conference Champion |
#1 and #2 Progress
| WEEKS | #1 | #2 | Event | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRE | Ohio State | Alabama | ||
| 1-3 | Alabama | Ohio State | UCLA 17, Ohio State 0 (Oct. 4) | |
| 4-5 | Alabama | USC | Oregon 7, USC 7 (Oct 18) | |
| 6 | Alabama | Texas | SMU 20, Texas 6 (Oct 25) | |
| 7 | Alabama | UCLA | Miss. St 6, Alabama 3 (Nov. 1) | Arizona 23, UCLA 17 (Nov. 1) |
| 8 | Notre Dame | Georgia | Ga. Tech 3, Notre Dame 3 (Nov. 8) | |
| 9 | Georgia | USC | Washington 20, USC 10 (Nov 15) | |
| 10-11 | Georgia | Notre Dame | USC 20, Notre Dame 3 (Dec 6) | |
| 12 | Georgia | Florida State | End Regular Season |
Bowl games
- Sugar BowlSugar BowlThe Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
: #1 Georgia 17, #7 Notre Dame 10 - Orange Bowl: #4 Oklahoma 18, #2 Florida State 17
- Rose Bowl1981 Rose BowlThe 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines beating Washington Huskies by a score of 23–6...
: #5 Michigan 23, #16 Washington 6 - Cotton Bowl Classic: #9 Alabama 30, #6 Baylor 2
- Gator BowlGator BowlThe Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
: #3 Pittsburgh 37, #18 South Carolina 9 - Sun BowlSun BowlThe Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
: #8 Nebraska 31, #17 Mississippi State 17 - Fiesta BowlFiesta BowlThe Fiesta Bowl, now sponsored by Frito-Lay and named with their Tostitos brand, is a United States college football bowl game played annually at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Between its origination in 1971 and 2006, the game was hosted in Tempe, Arizona at Sun Devil...
: #10 Penn State 31, #11 Ohio State 19 - Peach Bowl1981 Peach Bowl (January)The 1981 Peach Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Hurricanes from the University of Miami at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on January 2, 1981. The game was the final contest of the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season...
: #20 Miami 20, Virginia Tech 10 - Bluebonnet BowlBluebonnet BowlThe Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was...
: #13 North Carolina 16, Texas 7 - Liberty BowlLiberty BowlThe Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
: Purdue 28, Missouri 25 - Hall of Fame ClassicAll-American BowlThe All-American Bowl was an annual postseason college football bowl game played at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama from 1977 to 1990. The game was known as the Hall of Fame Classic from 1977 to 1985....
: Arkansas 34, Tulane 15 - Tangerine BowlCapital One BowlThe Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
: Florida 35, Maryland 20 - Holiday BowlHoliday BowlThe Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
: #14 BYU 46, #19 SMU 45 - Garden State BowlGarden State BowlThe Garden State Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, from 1978 to 1981...
: Houston 35, Navy 0 - Independence BowlIndependence BowlThe Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
: Southern Mississippi 16, McNeese State 14
Final AP Poll
- Georgia
- Pittsburgh
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- Florida State
- Alabama
- Nebraska
- Penn State
- Notre Dame
- North Carolina
- UCLA
- Brigham Young
- Southern California
- Baylor
- Ohio St
- Washington
- Purdue
- Miami (FL)
- Mississippi State
- SMU
Final Coaches Poll
- Georgia
- Pittsburgh
- Oklahoma
- Michigan
- Florida St.
- Alabama
- Nebraska
- Penn St.
- North Carolina
- Notre Dame
- Brigham Young
- UCLA
- Baylor
- Southern California
- Ohio St.
- Purdue
- Washington
- Miami (FL)
- Florida
- Southern Methodist
Heisman Trophy voting
- George RogersGeorge Rogers (American football)George Washington Rogers is a former American football player who achieved distinction in both the college and professional ranks as a running back...
South Carolina, RB - Hugh Green Pittsburgh, DE
- Herschel WalkerHerschel WalkerHerschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
Georgia, RB - Mark HerrmannMark HerrmannMark James Herrmann is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the NFL. He was Associate Director of Educational Programs for the NCAA, before budget cutbacks. However, he is best known for his college career with the Purdue Boilermakers...
Purdue, QB - Jim McMahonJim McMahonJames Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
Brigham Young, QB
Other major awards
- Maxwell - Hugh Green Pittsburgh, DE
- Outland - Mark MayMark MayMark Eric May is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN.-Football career:...
Pittsburgh, DT - Camp - Hugh Green Pittsburgh, DE
- Lombardi - Hugh Green Pittsburgh, DE