The 1980 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Ron Meyer, the Mustangs compiled an overall record 8–4 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, tying for second place in the SWC. SMU was invited to the Holiday Bowl, there they lost to BYU. The Mustangs finished the season ranked No. 20 in both major polls.[1]
1980 SMU Mustangs football | |
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Holiday Bowl, L 45–46 vs. BYU | |
Conference | Southwest Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 20 |
AP | No. 20 |
Record | 8–4 (5–3 SWC) |
Head coach |
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Offensive scheme | Option |
Defensive coordinator | Steve Sidwell (5th season) |
Base defense | 3–4 |
Home stadium | Texas Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 13 | North Texas State* | W 28–9 | 52,781 | [2] | |||
September 20 | TCU |
| W 17–14 | 39,622 | |||
September 27 | Texas–Arlington* |
| W 52–16 | 26,611 | [3] | ||
October 4 | at Tulane* | W 31–21 | 42,563 | ||||
October 11 | at No. 18 Baylor | No. 20 | L 28–32 | 35,000 | |||
October 18 | Houston |
| L 11–13 | 32,109 | |||
October 25 | at No. 2 Texas | ABC | W 20–6 | 73,535 | |||
November 1 | Texas A&M | No. 19 |
| W 27–0 | 41,289 | ||
November 8 | at Rice | No. 18 | W 34–14 | 23,000 | |||
November 15 | at Texas Tech | No. 18 | L 0–14 | 42,197 | |||
November 23 | Arkansas |
| W 31–7 | 28,225 | |||
December 19 | vs. No. 13 BYU* | No. 20 | Mizlou | L 45–46 | 50,200 | ||
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1980 SMU Mustangs football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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This game became notable for a significant change made during it. Coach Meyer, who had run a pro-style offense with Mike Ford to this point, chose instead to adjust and run an option attack with freshman Lance McIlhenny instead. The adjustment worked, as Texas could not stop what became known as the Mustangs’ “Pony Express” running game of Craig James and eventual NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson.
Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
John Simmons | Defensive back | 3 | 64 | Cincinnati Bengals |