1980 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1980 Alabama Crimson Tide football Southeastern Conference SEC 6 6 10–2 5–1 Bear Bryant 23rd Mal Moore 6th Wishbone Ken Donahue 7th 5–2 Major Ogilvie Randy Scott Bryant–Denny StadiumLegion Field Cotton Bowl champion Cotton Bowl W Won 30–2 vs. Baylor The 1980 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA" or "Bama") represented the University of Alabama in the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 86th overall and 47th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 23rd year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with ten wins and two losses (10–2 overall, 5–1 in the SEC) and with a victory over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl. A 6–3 loss to Mississippi State ended Alabama's school record 28-game winning streak and all-time SEC record 27-game conference winning streak, and was Alabama's first loss to Mississippi State since 1957. It also cost the Tide a share of the SEC championship, the first time since 1976 they failed to win the SEC. Despite surrendering 35 points to Ole Miss, the Alabama defense still allowed only 98 points for the entire season. Schedule 1980 AP Central September 6 1:30 p.m. w y 2 Georgia Tech Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry 26–3 78,410 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71515567/jackets-cant-stem-tide-263/ The Atlanta Constitution Jackets can't stem Tide, 26–3 September 7, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com September 20 1:30 p.m. w y y 1 Ole MissPrior to the 1980 season, the SEC ruled if two SEC teams scheduled each other independently, and not through the conference office, the game would not count in SEC standings. As such, although both were members of the SEC, the Alabama–Ole Miss games in 1980 and 1981 did not count as conference games in the official SEC standings.Seth Emerson Grudges, politics and gentlemen's agreements: The chaotic history of SEC scheduling https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4445067/2023/04/28/sec-schedule-history/ The Athletic April 28, 2023 October 31, 2023 "A" Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS rivalry 59–35 50,686 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71516028/5935-ole-miss-had-500-yards-but/ The Clarion-Ledger 59–35, Ole Miss had 500 yards, but Bama had 524 and its 23rd win in a row September 21, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com September 27 1:30 p.m. w 1 Vanderbilt Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL ESPN 41–0 60,210 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71516307/vus-improved-but-bama-romps/ The Tennessean VU's improved, but Bama romps September 28, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 4 1:30 p.m. w 1 Kentucky Legion Field Birmingham, AL ESPN 45–0 78,400 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71516539/win-no-300-sweet-for-bear-sour-for/ The Lexington Herald-Leader Win No. 300 sweet for Bear, sour for Curci October 5, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 11 12:30 p.m. w y y 1 Rutgers Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ ESPN 17–13 58,107 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71517251/alabama-survives-ru-scare-1713/ The Daily Home News Alabama survives RU scare, 17–13 October 12, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 18 2:30 p.m. w y 1 Tennessee Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN Third Saturday in October ABC 27–0 96,748 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71517483/bama-waltzes-past-tennessee/ The Montgomery Advertiser Bama 'waltzes' past Tennessee October 19, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com October 25 1:30 p.m. w y y 1 Southern Miss 20 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL ESPN 42–7 60,210 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71517669/errors-allow-tide-to-roll/ Hattiesburg American Errors allow Tide to roll October 26, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com November 1 1:30 p.m. l y 1 Mississippi State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS rivalry ESPN 3–6 50,891 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71517967/mississippi-state-stuns-alabama/ The Montgomery Advertiser Mississippi State stuns Alabama November 2, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com November 8 1:30 p.m. w 6 LSU Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry ESPN 28–7 60,210 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71518235/relentless-tide-covers-lsu-287/ The Shreveport Times 'Relentless' Tide covers LSU, 28–7 November 9, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com November 15 2:30 p.m. l y 5 Notre Dame 6 Legion Field Birmingham, AL ABC 0–7 78,873 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71518468/hot-irish-defense-stops-alabama-cold/ Chicago Tribune Hot Irish defense stops Alabama cold November 16, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com November 29 1:30 p.m. w y 9 Auburn Legion Field Birmingham, AL Iron Bowl 34–18 78,549 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71518741/unlikely-heroes-lead-bama-win/ The Montgomery Advertiser Unlikely heroes lead Bama win November 30, 1980 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com January 1, 1981 1:00 p.m. w y y 9 Baylor 6 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl CBS 30–2 74,281 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71518955/tide-in-somber-mood-after-baylor-blast/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Tide in somber mood after Baylor blast January 2, 1981 February 19, 2021 Newspapers.com https://rolltide.com/sports/2016/6/10/sports-m-footbl-archive-m-footbl-archive-1980-html.aspx?id=198 1980 Alabama football archives RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics February 19, 2021 Roster 1980 Alabama Crimson Tide f Scott Allison 62 OG Sr Billy Jackson 33 RB Sr y Billy Jackson (American football) Don Jacobs 5 QB Sr Tom Boyd 90 LB Jr y Tom Boyd (American football) Byron Braggs 47 DT Sr y Jackie Cline 98 DT So y Jim Bob Harris 9 DB Jr E.J. Junior 39 LB Sr y Benny Perrin 23 DB Jr y Mike Pitts 81 DE So y Randy Scott Randy Scott (American football) 50 LB Sr y *Bear Bryant Notes "A" References General http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/80-m-footbl-recaps.pdf 1980 Season Recaps RollTide.com University of Alabama Department of Intercollegiate Athletics July 15, 2015 November 12, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121112145057/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/alab/graphics/docs/80-m-footbl-recaps.pdf dead http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2012FootballRecordBook.pdf 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Record Book 2012 University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations Office Tuscaloosa, Alabama July 16, 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115208/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2012FootballRecordBook.pdf March 4, 2016 Specific Alabama Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football seasons Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons Alabama Crimson Tide footbal