| Year: | 1980 |
| Team: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Short Conf: | ACC |
| Coachrank: | 9 |
| Aprank: | 10 |
| Record: | 11–1 |
| Conf Record: | 6–0 |
| Head Coach: | Dick Crum |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Captain: | Rick Donnalley, Steve Streater, Lawrence Taylor, Ron Wooten |
| Stadium: | Kenan Memorial Stadium |
| Champion: | ACC champion Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Astro–Bluebonnet Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 16–7 vs. Texas |
The 1980 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Dick Crum in his third season as ahead coach, the team finished the season with an 11–1 overall record, winning the ACC title with a 6–0 mark in conference played and beating Texas in the Astro–Bluebonnet Bowl. The 11 wins tied a program record set during the 1972 season.
Linebacker Lawrence Taylor had 16 sacks in his final year for the Tar Heels and set numerous defensive records. His accolades included a consensus selection to the 1980 College Football All-America Team included All-America and ACC Player of the Year honors.[1] Crum was named ACC Coach of the Year.
See main article: 1980 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
See also: 1980 Maryland Terrapins football team.
See also: 1980 Oklahoma Sooners football team.
See also: 1980 Duke Blue Devils football team and Victory Bell (Duke–North Carolina).
See main article: 1980 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.
See also: 1980 Texas Longhorns football team.
See main article: 1981 NFL draft.
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Linebacker | 1 | 2 | ||
| Defensive tackle | 1 | 18 | ||
| Center | 3 | 73 | ||
| Running back | 4 | 103 | ||
| Guard | 6 | 157 | ||
| Harry Stanback | Defensive tackle | 6 | 164 | |