| Year: | 1980 |
| Team: | Rice Owls |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southwest Conference |
| Short Conf: | SWC |
| Record: | 5–6 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Head Coach: | Ray Alborn |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | Rice Stadium |
The 1980 Rice Owls football team was an American football team that represented Rice University in the Southwest Conference during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Ray Alborn, the team compiled a 5–6 record.[1] [2]
The Owls' 17-7 victory vs. LSU ended a 13-game winless streak vs. the Bayou Bengals. It was Rice's first victory vs. LSU since 1966, the last season the Owls were coached by the legendary Jess Neely.