1980 NAIA Division I football season

American college football season

1980 NAIA Division I football season

Regular season| August–November 1980
Postseason| December 6–20, 1980
National Championship| Burlington Memorial Stadium
Burlington, NC
Champions| Elon

* ← 1979
* NAIA Division I football season
* 1981 →

The 1980 NAIA Division I football season was the 25th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 11th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1980 and culminated in the 1980 NAIA Division I Champion Bowl. The title game was played on December 20, 1980 at Burlington Memorial Stadium in Burlington, North Carolina, near the campus of Elon College.[1]

Elon defeated Northeastern State in the Champion Bowl, 17–10, to win their first NAIA national title.[2]

## Conference standings

[edit]

1980 Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 1 Central Arkansas $^  | 6  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 9  | – | 1  | – | 0
Southern Arkansas | 5  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 5  | – | 0
Arkansas Tech | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
Henderson State | 2  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Arkansas–Monticello | 2  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 7  | – | 0
Harding | 1  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 8  | – | 0
Ouachita Baptist | 1  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 8  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Central States Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 7 Kearney State $^  | 6  | – | 0  | – | 1 |  |  | 9  | – | 2  | – | 1
Pittsburg State | 5  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
Missouri Southern | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 3  | – | 1
Fort Hays State | 3  | – | 2  | – | 2 |  |  | 4  | – | 4  | – | 2
Missouri Western | 3  | – | 3  | – | 1 |  |  | 5  | – | 3  | – | 2
Wayne State (NE) | 3  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 5  | – | 0
Emporia State | 1  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 8  | – | 0
Washburn | 1  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 8  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Evergreen Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 12 Eastern Oregon \+  | 4  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 1  | – | 0
Oregon Tech \+  | 4  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 2  | – | 0
Oregon College \+  | 4  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 3  | – | 0
Southern Oregon | 2  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Central Washington | 1  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 0
Western Washington | 0  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 0

* \+ – Conference co-champions

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 20 Hillsdale $  | 5  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 4  | – | 0
Northwood | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 1
No. 18 Grand Valley State | 4  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
Wayne State (MI) | 3  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 4  | – | 0
Ferris State | 2  | – | 3  | – | 1 |  |  | 4  | – | 4  | – | 2
Saginaw Valley State | 2  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Michigan Tech | 0  | – | 5  | – | 1 |  |  | 2  | – | 6  | – | 1

* $ – Conference champion

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Lone Star Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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|
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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
Southwest Texas State $  | 6  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 3  | – | 0
No. 2 Angelo State ^  | 5  | – | 1  | – | 1 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 1
Texas A&I | 5  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 4  | – | 0
No. 8 East Texas State ^  | 4  | – | 2  | – | 1 |  |  | 8  | – | 3  | – | 1
Stephen F. Austin | 4  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Sam Houston State | 2  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Abilene Christian | 1  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 8  | – | 0
Howard Payne | 0  | – | 7  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 8  | – | 1

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Northern Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

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|
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Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
Minnesota Duluth $  | 8  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 10  | – | 0  | – | 0
Minnesota Morris ^  | 7  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 9  | – | 2  | – | 1
No. 11 Moorhead State | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
St. Cloud State | 5  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
Mankato State | 3  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Southwest State (MN) | 2  | – | 5  | – | 1 |  |  | 3  | – | 6  | – | 1
Winona State | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Northern State | 1  | – | 6  | – | 1 |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 1
Bemidji State | 1  | – | 7  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0

* $ – Conference champion
* ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 4 Northeastern State +^  | 3  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 11  | – | 2  | – | 0
No. 16 East Central \+  | 3  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
SW Oklahoma State \+  | 3  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 4  | – | 0
SE Oklahoma State | 1  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
NW Oklahoma State | 0  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0

* \+ – Conference co-champions
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
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|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 9 Southern Colorado \+  | 7  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 1  | – | 0
No. 10 Adams State \+  | 7  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 3  | – | 0
Southern Utah | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 3  | – | 0
Western State (CO) | 5  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
Colorado Mines | 3  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 5  | – | 0
New Mexico Highlands | 3  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Mesa | 3  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 6  | – | 0
Fort Lewis | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 0
Western New Mexico | 0  | – | 8  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 8  | – | 0

* \+ – Conference co-champions

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 South Atlantic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 5 Elon +^  | 6  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 13  | – | 1  | – | 0
No. 6 Mars Hill +^  | 6  | – | 1  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 1
Carson–Newman | 5  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
Presbyterian | 3  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Lenoir–Rhyne | 3  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 7  | – | 0
Newberry | 3  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 6  | – | 0
Gardner–Webb | 2  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
Catawba | 0  | – | 7  | – | 0 |  |  | 1  | – | 9  | – | 0

* \+ – Conference co-champions
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
Northern Division
No. 19 Shepherd xy  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 1 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 1
Fairmont State x  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 1 |  |  | 6  | – | 3  | – | 1
Salem | 6  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
West Virginia Wesleyan | 3  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 7  | – | 0
West Liberty State | 0  | – | 9  | – | 0 |  |  | 0  | – | 10  | – | 0
Southern Division
No. 3 Concord xy$^  | 9  | – | 0  | – | 0 |  |  | 11  | – | 1  | – | 0
West Virginia State | 6  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
West Virginia Tech | 5  | – | 4  | – | 0 |  |  | 5  | – | 4  | – | 0
Bluefield State | 1  | – | 7  | – | 1 |  |  | 1  | – | 7  | – | 1
Glenville State | 1  | – | 7  | – | 1 |  |  | 1  | – | 8  | – | 1
Championship: Concord 19, Shepherd 0

* $ – Conference champion
* x – Division champion/co-champions
* y – Championship game participant
* ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 Wisconsin State University Conference football standings |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 14 Wisconsin–La Crosse \+  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
No. 13 Wisconsin–River Falls \+  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 2  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Whitewater \+  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 8  | – | 3  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Platteville \+  | 6  | – | 2  | – | 0 |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Stout | 5  | – | 3  | – | 0 |  |  | 6  | – | 4  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Oshkosh | 3  | – | 5  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Stevens Point | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 4  | – | 6  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Eau Claire | 2  | – | 6  | – | 0 |  |  | 3  | – | 8  | – | 0
Wisconsin–Superior | 0  | – | 8  | – | 0 |  |  | 0  | – | 10  | – | 0

* \+ – Conference co-champions

Rankings from NAIA Division I poll
1980 NAIA Division I independents football records |

* v
* t
* e

| Conf. |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team | W |   | L |   | T |  |  | W |   | L |   | T
No. 17 Cameron |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 8  | – | 3  | – | 0
No. 15 Wofford |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 7  | – | 2  | – | 2
Liberty Baptist |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 7  | – | 3  | – | 0
Guilford |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 6  | – | 3  | – | 0
Central State (OK) |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 5  | – | 4  | – | 0
Kentucky State |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 5  | – | 6  | – | 0
Eastern New Mexico |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 2  | – | 7  | – | 1
Langston |   |  | – |  |   |  |  | 1  | – | 8  | – | 0
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

## Conference champions

[edit]

Conference  | Champion  | Record

|
|

Arkansas Intercollegiate | Central Arkansas | 6–0
Central States | Kearney State | 6–0–1
Evergreen | Eastern Oregon
Oregon Tech | 4–1
Great Lakes | Hillsdale | 5–1
NIC | Minnesota–Duluth | 8–0
Oklahoma | East Central State
Northeastern State
Southwestern Oklahoma State | 3–1
RMAC | Adams State
Southern Colorado | 7–1
South Atlantic | Elon
Mars Hill | 6–1
Lone Star | Southwest Texas State | 6–1
WVIAC | North: Shepherd and Fairmont State
South: Concord (WV) | 6–2–1
9–0
WSUC | Wisconsin–La Crosse
Wisconsin–River Falls | 6–2
6–2

## Postseason

[edit]

| Quarterfinals
December 6, 1980
Campus sites | | | Semifinals
December 13, 1980
Campus sites | | | 1980 Champion Bowl
December 20, 1980
Burlington, NC |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | |  |  |  |
| Elon | 17 | | |
| Concord* | 14 |
| | Elon | 14 |
|  |
| | | East Texas State* | 6 |
| East Texas State | 27 |

| Central Arkansas* | 21 |
| | Elon* | 17 |
|  |
| | | Northeastern State | 10 |
| Kearney State | 9* | |

| Mars Hill* | 6 |
| | Kearney State | 0 |
|  |
| | | Northeastern State* | 14 |
| Angelo State | 3 |

| Northeastern State* | 10 |

## See also

[edit]

* 1980 NAIA Division II football season
* 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season
* 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season
* 1980 NCAA Division II football season
* 1980 NCAA Division III football season

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NAIA Championship History" (PDF). NAIA. pp. 4–11\. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
2. ^ "1980 Division I NAIA Football Playoffs". JonFMorse.com. Retrieved November 22, 2015.

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*[v]: View this template
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