1980 Rice Owls football team

1980 Rice Owls football
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
Record5–6 (4–4 SWC)
Head coach
Home stadiumRice Stadium
1980 Southwest Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 14 Baylor $ 8 0 0 10 2 0
No. 20 SMU 5 3 0 8 4 0
Houston 5 3 0 7 5 0
Texas 4 4 0 7 5 0
Rice 4 4 0 5 6 0
Arkansas 3 5 0 7 5 0
Texas A&M 3 5 0 4 7 0
Texas Tech 3 5 0 5 6 0
TCU 1 7 0 1 10 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

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.

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.