Bowls and playoffs
The 1980 football postseason, including games played in 1981.
National championship games
Playoffs
Division I-AA playoffs
Division I-AA · National playoff
Final: Boise St. 31 · Eastern Ky. 29
3 recorded games · View rounds and results
Final: December 20, 1980
Final site: Sacramento, CA
Division II playoffs
Division II · National playoff
Final: Cal Poly 21 · Eastern Ill. 13
7 recorded games · View rounds and results
Final: Date not documented
Final site: Albuquerque, N.M.
Division III playoffs
Division III · National playoff
Final: Dayton 63 · Ithaca 0
7 recorded games · View rounds and results
Final: Date not documented
Final site: Phenix City, AL
Bowls
All-American Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Arkansas 34 · Tulane 15
December 27, 1980
Birmingham, AL
Bluebonnet Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
North Carolina 16 · Texas 7
December 31, 1980
Houston
Cotton Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Alabama 30 · Baylor 2
January 1, 1981
Location not documented
Fiesta Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Penn St. 31 · Ohio St. 19
December 26, 1980
Location not documented
Garden State Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Houston 35 · Navy 0
December 14, 1980
East Rutherford, NJ
Gator Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Pittsburgh 37 · South Carolina 9
December 29, 1980
Location not documented
Holiday Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
BYU 46 · SMU 45
December 19, 1980
Location not documented
Independence Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Southern Miss. 16 · McNeese St. 14
December 13, 1980
Location not documented
Liberty Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Purdue 28 · Missouri 25
December 27, 1980
Location not documented
Orange Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Oklahoma 18 · Florida St. 17
January 1, 1981
Location not documented
Peach Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Miami (FL) 20 · Virginia Tech 10
January 2, 1981
Location not documented
Rose Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Michigan 23 · Washington 6
January 1, 1981
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Sugar Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Georgia 17 · Notre Dame 10
January 1, 1981
Location not documented
Sun Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Nebraska 31 · Mississippi St. 17
December 27, 1980
Location not documented
Tangerine Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Florida 35 · Maryland 20
December 20, 1980
Location not documented
Camellia Bowl
Division I-AA · Postseason bowl · National championship
Boise St. 31 · Eastern Ky. 29
December 20, 1980
Sacramento, California
Boot Hill Bowl
Historical college football · Postseason bowl
Cameron 34 · Adams St. 16
November 21, 1980
Dodge City, KS
Gold Bowl
Historical college football · Postseason bowl
N.C. A&T 37 · N.C. Central 0
December 6, 1980
Richmond, VA
Moila Shrine Classic
Historical college football · Postseason bowl
Truman 17 · Pittsburg St. 14
November 22, 1980
St. Joseph, MO
All-star games
Black College All-Star Bowl
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
West 19 · East 10
January 17, 1981
Location not documented
Blue-Gray All-Star Classic
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
Blue 24 · Gray 23
December 25, 1980
Location not documented
East-West Shrine Classic
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
East 21 · West 3
January 10, 1981
Location not documented
Hula Bowl
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
West 24 · East 17
January 10, 1981
Location not documented
Japan Bowl
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
West 25 · East 13
January 17, 1981
Location not documented
Senior Bowl
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
North 23 · South 10
January 17, 1981
Location not documented
This directory follows documented editions. Dates, results, and selection rules that have not been documented are marked on each event’s page.