1980 playoffs

Champion

CP Cal Poly beat EI Eastern Illinois 21-13 in Albuquerque, N.M..

Championship 1

• CP Cal Poly 21
  EI Eastern Illinois 13

Semifinals 2

• CP Cal Poly 38
  SC Santa Clara 14
• EI Eastern Illinois 56
  UO North Alabama 31

First round 4

• CP Cal Poly 15
  JS Jacksonville State 0
• EI Eastern Illinois 21
  UO Northern Colorado 14
• SC Santa Clara 27
  NM Northern Michigan 26
• UO North Alabama 17
  VU Virginia Union 8

The field 8 teams

School	Finish
CP Cal Poly	Won the championship
EI Eastern Illinois	Lost in the championship
SC Santa Clara	Lost in the semifinals
UO North Alabama	Lost in the semifinals
JS Jacksonville State	Lost in the first round
NM Northern Michigan	Lost in the first round
UO Northern Colorado	Lost in the first round
VU Virginia Union	Lost in the first round

Source: NCAA Division II championship records (D2champs.pdf), through 2025. Loaded Sep 25, 5:21 PM CT. Checked for a newer edition Oct 27, 7:15 AM CT.