1980 Cal Poly Mustangs football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1980 Cal Poly Mustangs football California Collegiate Athletic Association CCAA 3 (NCAA Division II) 10–3 2–0 Joe Harper 13th Mustang Stadium NCAA Division II championCCAA champion NCAA Division II Championship Game—Zia Bowl W 21–13 vs. Eastern Illinois The 1980 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1980 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Joe Harper, Cal Poly compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 2–0 in conference play, winning the CCAA title for the fifth consecutive season. The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, where they shut out Jacksonville State in the quarterfinals, beat 1980 Santa Clara Broncos Santa Clara in the semifinals, and upset No. 1-ranked Eastern Illinois in the title game, the Zia Bowl played in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During the regular season, two of the Mustangs three losses came at the hands of NCAA Division I-A opponents, Cal State Fullerton and Fresno State. Cal Poly also beat Boise State, the eventual NCAA Division I-AA champion. The Mustangs played home games at Mustang Stadium in San Luis Obispo, California. Schedule 1980 NCAA Division II Associated Press September 13 w y y 1980 Northern Colorado Bears Northern Colorado Jackson Field Greeley, CO 17–16 1,309 Gabriel's Team Bows in Opener The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California September 14, 1980 III-18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9957090/gabriels_team_bows_in_opener/ Newspapers.com March 31, 2017 September 20 l y Cal State Fullerton Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA 23–30 7,160 Titans Off and Running, Win Again The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Pete Donovan September 21, 1980 III-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8874559/titans_off_and_running_win_again/ Newspapers.com February 10, 2017 September 27 w y y UC Davis Toomey Field Davis, California rivalry 28–25 8,900–9,000 Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (UC Davis) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/108/stats/13636 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 12, 2022 October 4 l y y Fresno State Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, California 25–31 15,221 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-dogs-corral-mustangs-31/158521826/ The Fresno Bee 'Dogs corral Mustangs, 31–25, with record throng watching October 5, 1980 November 5, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 w y y 10 1980 Santa Clara Broncos Santa Clara 5 Buck Shaw Stadium Santa Clara, CA 42–28 7,200 October 25 w y 7 1980 Puget Sound Loggers Puget Sound Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA 24–0 6,080 Cal Poly Poly (sic) Pomona Buried, 93-7 The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California October 26, 1980 54 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9646015/cal_poly_poly_pomona_buried/ Newspapers.com March 18, 2017 November 1 w 5 Cal State Northridge Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA 35–6 8,170 Azusa Rolls Past Chapman, 51-7 The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California November 2, 1980 III-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9087263/azusa_rolls_past_chapman/ Newspapers.com February 21, 2017 November 8 w y 4 Cal Poly Pomona Claremont Alumni Field Claremont, CA 36–0 4,781 November 15 w y 4 Boise State 5 (I-AA) Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA 23–20 8,330 https://issuu.com/broncosports/docs/2015_media_guide/158 Boise State University Athletics 2015 Boise State Football Media Guide 2015 157 February 14, 2017 November 22 l y 3 Sacramento State Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA 19–24 5,470 November 29 y w 3 Jacksonville State 4 Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA NCAA Division II Quarterfinal 15–0 4,380 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113858931/cal-poly-nails-jax/ The Anniston Star Cal Poly nails Jax November 30, 1980 November 29, 2022 Newspapers.com w December 6 y 3 Santa Clara 7 Mustang Stadium San Luis Obispo, CA NCAA Division II Semifinal 38–14 6,650 Cal Poly SLO Makes It to Division II Final The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California December 7, 1980 III-16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9087464/cal_poly_slo_makes_it_to_division_ii/ Newspapers.com February 21, 2017 w December 13 y 3 Eastern Illinois 1 University Stadium Albuquerque, NM Zia Bowl—NCAA Division II Championship Game 21–13 2,056 Cal Poly SLO Wins Title The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California December 14, 1980 III-15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9087505/cal_poly_slo_wins_title/ Newspapers.com February 21, 2017 Final 1980 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Cal Poly) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/90/stats/13636 National Collegiate Athletic Association June 13, 2022 History (1915–2023) https://gopoly.com/documents/2023/6/7/2024_History_Pages_Lo-Res.pdf Cal Poly Athletics 25 May 26, 2025 Team players in the NFL The following Cal Poly Mustang players were selected in the 1981 NFL draft.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1981.htm 1981 NFL Draft January 12, 2017 December 21, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071221202823/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1981.htm deadhttps://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/calpolysanluisobispo/ Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo Players/Alumni January 12, 2017 Player Position Round Overall NFL team Robbie Martin Wide receiver 4 100 Pittsburgh Steelers Louis Jackson Running back 7 168 New York Giants Mike Daum Tackle 7 179 Miami Dolphins The following finished their college career in 1980, were not drafted, but played in the NFL. Player Position First NFL team LeCharls McDaniel Defensive back 1981 Washington Redskins Mel Kaufman Linebacker 1981 Washington Redskins References Cal Poly Category:Cal Poly Mustangs football seasons Category:NCAA Division II Football Champions Category:California Collegiate Athletic Association football champion seasons Cal Poly Mustangs football