In their 13th season under head coach Jim Butterfield, the Bombers compiled an 11–2 record and won the NCAA Division III championship.
[1][2] The Bombers advanced to the 1979 NCAA Division III playoffs, defeating Dubuque (27–7) in the quarterfinals, Carnegie Mellon (15–6) in the semifinals, and Wittenberg (14–10) in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the national championship.
[3] The streak commenced on October 27, 1979, and continued through the 1980 regular season, ending with a loss to Dayton in the 1980 NCAA Division III championship game.
[2] Three Ithaca players were named to the NCAA Division III All-America football team as selected by the sports information directors.
Senior running back John Nicolo totaled 880 rushing yards and was named to the second team.