[1] The Cougars were led by 18th-year head coach Bill Yeoman and played their home games at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.

They competed as members of the Southwest Conference, finishing as co-champions with Arkansas.

Their only loss was at home to the eighth-ranked Texas Longhorns, 21–13.

Houston was invited to the 1980 Cotton Bowl Classic, played on New Year's Day, where they defeated seventh-ranked Nebraska.

Houston finished ranked fifth in both major final polls.