The 1980 Iowa Hawkeyes football team was an American football team that represented the University of Iowa in the 1980 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Hayden Fry, the Hawkeyes finished in fourth place in the Big Ten Conference (Big Ten), compiled a 4–7 record (4–4 against Big Ten opponents), and were outscored by their opponents, 238 to 154.^[1] The team played its home games in Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

The team's statistical leaders included Phil Suess with 1,031 passing yards, Jeff Brown with 673 rushing yards, and Keith Chappelle with 1,037 receiving yards and 36 points scored.^[2] Several Iowa players also ranked among the Big Ten leaders in various statistical categories, including the following:

• Keith Chappelle led the Big Ten with 1,037 receiving yards and third in the conference with 64 receptions.^[3]
• Norm Granger led the Big Ten with 29.9 yards per kickoff return.^[3]
• J. C. Love Jordan ranked third in the Big Ten with 348 kickoff return yards and 26.8 yard per kickoff return.^[3]
• Tracy Crocker ranked third in the Big Ten with 62 interception return yards.^[3]
• Reggie Roby ranked sixth in the Big Ten with a 40.0% field goal percentage and eighth with six field goals made.^[3]
• Phil Suess ranked sixth in the Big Ten with a 52.4 pass completion percentage and a 114.1 passing efficiency rating and eighth with 1,031 passing yards.^[3]
• Jeff Brown ranked sixth in the Big Ten with 5.1 yards per rushing attempt and eighth with 673 rushing yards.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 13	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	W 16–7	50,173
September 20	at No. 6 Nebraska*	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	L 0–57	76,029
September 27	Iowa State*	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA (Cy-Hawk Trophy)	L 7–10	60,145
October 4	Arizona*	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	L 3–5	59,950
October 11	Illinois	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	L 14–20	59,780
October 18	Northwestern	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	W 25–3	59,990
October 25	at Minnesota	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN (Floyd of Rosedale)	L 6–24	58,158
November 1	Wisconsin	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	W 22–13	59,995
November 8	at No. 17 Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	L 13–58	68,775
November 15	No. 7 Ohio State	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	L 7–41	59,890
November 22	at Michigan State	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	W 41–0	55,123
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[1]

Roster

1980 Iowa Hawkeyes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB 28 Phil Blatcher Jr QB 11 Gordy Bohannan  Sr RB 27 Jeff Brown Jr WR Keith Chappelle Sr QB 12 Pete Gales Jr RB 26 Norm Granger Fr G 76 Ron Hallstrom Jr C 54 Jay Hilgenberg Sr G 55 Joe Levelis Fr OT 79 Brett Miller So WR 83 Lon Olejniczak So RB 22 Eddie Phillips Fr QB 16 Phil Suess (C) Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DL 63 Mark Bortz So DL 58 Pat Dean Jr DB 10 Jim Frazier Jr DT 75 John Harty (C) Sr DL Michael Hooks DB 43 Lou King Jr DB 41 Bob Stoops So DE 99 Andre Tippett Jr DL 94 Brad Webb Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P/K 7 Reggie Roby So K 83 Lon Olejniczak So	Head coach Hayden Fry Coordinators/assistant coaches Bill Snyder – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Bill Brashier – Defensive Coordinator Carl Jackson – Running backs Del Miller – Offensive assistant Dan McCarney – Defensive line Barry Alvarez – Linebackers Don Patterson – Defensive Backs Bernie Wyatt – Defensive Ends/Recruiting Coordinator Bill Dervich – Strength and Conditioning Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Game summaries

At Indiana

On September 13, Iowa opened its 1980 season with a 16–7 victory over Indiana. Jeff Brown rushed for 176 yards and caught five passes in his first start as Iowa's tailback.^[4]

At Nebraska

On September 20, in the Iowa–Nebraska football rivalry, Iowa was "humiliated" by Nebraska (AP No. 6) by a 57–0 score in front of a crowd of 76,029 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 57-point loss was the worst football defeat for Iowa in 30 years. Nebraska's Jarvis Redwine rushed for 153 yards on 12 carries.^[5]

Iowa State