The 1980 Cal Poly Mustangs football team represented California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the 1980 NCAA Division II football season.
Led by 13th-year head coach Joe Harper, Cal Poly compiled an overall record of 10–3 with a mark of 2–0 in conference play, winning the CCAA title for the fifth consecutive season.
The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA Division II Football Championship playoffs, where they shut out Jacksonville State in the quarterfinals, beat Santa Clara in the semifinals, and upset No.
1-ranked Eastern Illinois in the title game, the Zia Bowl played in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Cal Poly also beat Boise State, the eventual NCAA Division I-AA champion.