| Year: | 1980 |
| Team: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Short Conf: | ACC |
| Coachrank: | 9 |
| Aprank: | 10 |
| Record: | 11–1 |
| Conf Record: | 6–0 |
| Head Coach: | Dick Crum |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Captain: | Rick Donnalley, Steve Streater, Lawrence Taylor, Ron Wooten |
| Stadium: | Kenan Memorial Stadium |
| Champion: | ACC champion Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Astro–Bluebonnet Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 16–7 vs. Texas |
The 1980 North Carolina Tar Heels football team was an American football team that represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Dick Crum, the Tar Heels compiled an 11–1 record (6–0 in conference games), kept six opponents from scoring a touchdown, and outscored all opponents by a total of 281 to 123. They won the ACC championship, were ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll, and defeated Texas in the Astro–Bluebonnet Bowl.[1] The 11 wins tied a program record set during the 1972 season.
Senior linebacker Lawrence Taylor had 16 sacks, was a consensus selection on the 1980 All-America college football team and won ACC player of the year honors.[2] [3] Crum was named ACC coach of the year.[4]
The team had two backs who gained over 1,000 rushing yards: Amos Lawrence (1,118 yards, 90 points) and Kelvin Bryant (1,039 yards, 72 points). Quarterback Rod Elkins led the team with 1,002 passing yards.[5]
The team played its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
See main article: 1980 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
See also: 1980 Maryland Terrapins football team.
See also: 1980 Oklahoma Sooners football team.
See also: 1980 Duke Blue Devils football team and Victory Bell (Duke–North Carolina).
See main article: 1980 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.
See also: 1980 Texas Longhorns football team.
The Tar Heels gained an average of 297.7 rushing yards and 104.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 138.0 rushing yards and 144.1 passing yards per game.[5]
Two North Carolina backs tallied over 1,000 rushing yards:
Billy Johnson ranked third with 433 yards on 103 carries for a 4.2 yard average.[5]
Quarterback Rod Elkins completed 181 of 160 passes (50.6%) for 1,002 yards with 11 touchdowns, nine interceptins, and a 114.7 quarterback rating. The team's leading receivers were Mike Chatham (20 receptions, 239 yards), Victor Harrison (16 receptions, 210 yards), Jon Richardson (15 receptions, 206 yards), and Kelvin Bryant (12 receptions, 194 yards).[5]
Linebacker Lawrence Taylor won the award as the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year.[10]
Three North Carolina players received All-America honors. Taylor was a consensus pick, receiving first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press (AP), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and United Press International (UPI). Guard Ron Wooten received first-team honors from the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) and the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF), second-team honors from the UPI, and third-team honors from the AP. Center Rick Donnalley received second-team honors from the AP.
Eight North Carolina players received first-team honors on the 1980 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: guard Ron Wooten; center Rick Donnalley; running backs Amos Lawrence and Kelvin Bryant; Lawrence Taylor (at defensive line); linebacker Darrell Nicholson; Steve Streater (honored both as defensive back and punter).[11]
See main article: 1981 NFL draft.
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Linebacker | 1 | 2 | ||
| Defensive tackle | 1 | 18 | ||
| Center | 3 | 73 | ||
| Running back | 4 | 103 | ||
| Guard | 6 | 157 | ||
| Harry Stanback | Defensive tackle | 6 | 164 | |