# 1980 NCAA Division II football rankings

The 1980 NCAA Division II football rankings are from the Associated Press. This is for the 1980 season.

## Legend

| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | Not ranked previous week |
| (#–#) | Win–loss record |
| (Italics) | Number of first place votes |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |

## Associated Press poll

| | Week 1 Sept 24 | Week 2 Oct 1 | Week 3 Oct 8 | Week 4 Oct 15 | Week 5 Oct 22 | Week 6 Oct 29 | Week 7 Nov 5 | Week 8 Nov 12 | Week 9 Nov 19 | |
| 1. | Northern Michigan (3–0) | Northern Michigan (4–0) | Nebraska–Omaha (5–0) | Nebraska–Omaha (6–0) | Northern Michigan (7–0) | Northern Michigan (8–0) | Eastern Illinois (7–2) | Eastern Illinois (8–2) | Eastern Illinois (9–2) | 1. |
| 2. | Nebraska–Omaha (3–0) | Nebraska–Omaha (4–0) | Northern Michigan (5–0) | Northern Michigan (6–0) | Nebraska–Omaha (7–0) | Eastern Illinois (6–2) | Northern Michigan (8–1) | Northern Michigan (9–1) | Northern Michigan (9–1) | 2. |
| 3. | Troy State (2–0) | Troy State (3–0) | Troy State (4–0) | Troy State (5–0) | Troy State (6–0) | Jacksonville State (5–1) | Jacksonville State (6–1) | Jacksonville State (7–1) | Cal Poly (7–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Central Connecticut State (2–0) т | North Alabama (3–0) | North Alabama (4–0) | Jacksonville State (5–1) | Jacksonville State (5–1) | Nebraska–Omaha (7–1) | Cal Poly (5–2) | Cal Poly (6–2) | Jacksonville State (8–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Southwest Texas State (2–0) т | Southwest Texas State (2–1) | Santa Clara (4–1) | American International (5–0) | Eastern Illinois (5–2) | Cal Poly (4–2) | Nebraska–Omaha (7–1) | Troy State (8–1) | North Alabama (8–1) | 5. |
| 6. | North Alabama (2–0) | East Stroudsburg (2–1) | American International (4–0) | Eastern Illinois (4–2) | American International (6–0) | North Alabama (6–1) | North Alabama (7–1) | North Alabama (7–1) | Virginia Union (8–1–1) | 6. |
| 7. | Western Illinois (2–0) | Eastern Washington (3–0) | Jacksonville State (4–1) | Cal Poly (3–2) | Cal Poly (3–2) | Troy State (6–1) | Troy State (7–1) | American International (8–1) | Santa Clara (8–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Virginia Union (2–0) | Jacksonville State (3–1) | Eastern Illinois (3–2) | Virginia Union (4–1) | Virginia Union (5–1) | American International (6–1) | American International (7–1) | Nebraska–Omaha (7–2) | Southwest Texas State (8–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Puget Sound (3–0) | Missouri–Rolla (4–0) | Springfield (MA) (2–1) | North Alabama (4–1) | North Alabama (5–1) | Santa Clara (5–2) | Santa Clara (6–2) т | Santa Clara (7–2) | American International (8–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Edinboro State (2–0) | Slippery Rock (3–1) т | Cal Poly (5–0) | Santa Clara (4–2) | Santa Clara (4–2) | Northern Colorado (8–0) | Northern Iowa (6–2) т | Southwest Texas State (7–2) т | Northern Colorado (7–3) | 10. |
| 11. | | Virginia Union (2–1) т | | | | | | Virginia Union (7–1–1) т | | 11. |
| | Week 1 Sept 24 | Week 2 Oct 1 | Week 3 Oct 8 | Week 4 Oct 15 | Week 5 Oct 22 | Week 6 Oct 29 | Week 7 Nov 5 | Week 8 Nov 12 | Week 9 Nov 19 | |
| | | Dropped: 4 Central Connecticut State7 Western Illinois9 Puget Sound10 Edinboro State | Dropped: 5 Southwest Texas State6 East Stroudsburg7 Eastern Washington9 Missouri–Rolla10 Slippery Rock10 Virginia Union | Dropped: 9 Springfield (MA) | None | Dropped: 8 Virginia Union | Dropped: 10 Northern Colorado | Dropped: 10 Northern Iowa | Dropped: 5 Troy State8 Nebraska–Omaha | |