| Year: | 1980 |
| Team: | Boise State Broncos |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Sky Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Sky |
| Aprank: | 7 (November 26) |
| Record: | 10–3 |
| Conf Record: | 6–1 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Criner |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | Gene Dahlquist |
| Oc Year: | 4th |
| Def Coach: | Lyle Setencich |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Stadium: | Bronco Stadium |
| Champion: | NCAA Division I-AA national champion Big Sky champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game |
| Bowl Result: | W 31–29 vs. Eastern Kentucky |
The 1980 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Broncos competed in the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. They were led by fifth-year head coach Jim Criner and the "Four Horseman" senior backfield: quarterback Joe Aliotti, fullback David Hughes, halfback Cedric Minter, with halfback Terry Zahner in reserve.[1]
The previous season, the Broncos had a 10–1 record and were undefeated in the Big Sky,[2] [3] [4] but were on probation for a scouting violation in November 1978, making them ineligible for the conference title or the 1979 I-AA playoffs.[5] [6] [7]
The Broncos finished the regular season in 1980 at 8–3 and 6–1 in conference to win their fifth Big Sky title in eleven seasons, their first since 1977. BSU defeated their two Division I-A opponents, but lost a road contest in November to Cal Poly-SLO, the eventual Division II national champions, whom they had routed at the end of the previous season.[2] [3]
The Broncos easily defeated rival Idaho, then ranked ninth, for the fourth consecutive year in mid-October in Boise. During halftime of the Nevada-Reno game on November 8, BSU dedicated the playing field at Bronco Stadium to athletic director and former head coach Lyle Smith.[8] The only conference setback was a one-point loss in late September at Montana State, the difference was a last-minute two-point conversion.[9]
The Broncos were invited to the four-team I-AA playoffs. As Big Sky champions with a substantial stadium and fan base, BSU was chosen to host in the first round, a national semifinal on December 13, three weeks after the completion of the regular season. The opponent was Grambling State, coached by legend Eddie Robinson. The Broncos won 14–9 in sub-freezing fog and advanced to the championship game the following week in California against defending champion Eastern Kentucky, coached by Roy Kidd.[10] [11] [12] In a back-and-forth contest played in the fog at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento, Boise State won 31–29 to win their only I-AA national title.[13] [14]
One Bronco senior was selected in the 1981 NFL draft, which lasted twelve rounds (332 selections).
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | Franchise | |
| 31 | Seattle Seahawks |