| Year: | 1980 |
| Team: | Washington State Cougars |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Pacific-10 Conference |
| Short Conf: | Pac-10 |
| Record: | 4–7 |
| Conf Record: | 3–4 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Walden |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | Pat Ruel |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Bob Padilla |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Samoa Samoa |
| Captain2: | Allan Kennedy |
| Captain3: | Brian Flones |
| Captain4: | Scott Pelluer |
| Stadium: | Martin Stadium, Joe Albi Stadium (Spokane) |
The 1980 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third season under head coach Jim Walden, the Cougars compiled a 4–7 record (3–4 in Pac-10, tied for sixth), and outscored their opponents 287 to 271.[1] [2]
The team's statistical leaders included Samoa Samoa with 1,668 passing yards,[3] Tim Harris with 801 rushing yards,[4] and Jim Whatley with 433 receiving yards.[5]
This year's Apple Cup is the most recent played at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane; since 1982, the Cougar home games in the series (even-numbered years) have been held on campus at Martin Stadium. From 1950 thru 1980 (except 1954 in Pullman), the Cougars were in Spokane Apple Cups, while winning five in Seattle.
See also: 1980 Washington Huskies football team and Apple Cup.
Five Cougars were selected in the 1981 NFL draft.
| Scott Pelluer | LB | 4 | 91 | Dallas Cowboys | |
| Samoa Samoa | RB/QB | 9 | 230 | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| Jim Whatley | WR | 9 | 236 | Seattle Seahawks | |
| Mike Wilson | WR | 9 | 246 | Dallas Cowboys | |
| Allan Kennedy | T | 10 | 267 | Washington Redskins |