1980 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1980 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Fiesta Bowl, L 19–31 vs. Penn State
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
APNo. 15
Record9–3 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGlen Mason (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorDennis Fryzel (2nd season)
MVPCalvin Murray
Captains
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
1980 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Michigan $ 8 0 0 10 2 0
No. 15 Ohio State 7 1 0 9 3 0
No. 17 Purdue 7 1 0 9 3 0
Iowa 4 4 0 4 7 0
Minnesota 4 5 0 5 6 0
Indiana 3 5 0 6 5 0
Wisconsin 3 5 0 4 7 0
Illinois 3 5 0 3 7 1
Michigan State 2 6 0 3 8 0
Northwestern 0 9 0 0 11 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1980 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1980 Big Ten season. In their second season under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes began the season ranked No. 1 in the pre-season AP poll. They finished in a tie for second place in the Big Ten, compiled a 9–3 record (7–1 in conference games), and outscored opponents by a total of 368 to 150. They lost to Penn State in the 1980 Fiesta Bowl and were ranked No. 15 in the final AP poll.

The team's statistical leaders included:

  • Quarterback Art Schlichter ranked second in the Big Ten with a 139.7 passing efficiency rating and 22 total touchdowns and third with 1,930 passing yards, a 54.0% pass completion percentage, and 2,255 total yards.
  • Running back Calvin Murray led the Big Ten with 1,267 rushing yards, 1,471 yards from scrimmage, and 6.5 yards per rushing attempt.
  • Wide receiver Doug Donley led the Big Ten with 20.6 yard per reception and fifth with 887 receiving yards.
  • Placekicker Vlade Janakievski led the Big Ten with 90 points scored and 45 extra points made and second with 15 field goals made.

Nine Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1980 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Murray (AP/UPI); Donley (AP/UPI); Janikievski (AP/UPI); guard Joe Lukens (AP/UPI); linebacker Marcus Marek (AP/UPI); defensive backs Ray Ellis (AP/UPI), Vince Skillings (UPI), and Todd Bell (UPI); and defensive lineman Jerome Foster (AP).

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.