Senior linebacker Lawrence Taylor had 16 sacks, was a consensus selection on the 1980 All-America college football team and won ACC player of the year honors.
Quarterback Rod Elkins led the team with 1,002 passing yards.
[5] The team played its home games at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
[5] Linebacker Lawrence Taylor won the award as the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year.
Eight North Carolina players received first-team honors on the 1980 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team: guard Ron Wooten; center Rick Donnalley; running backs Amos Lawrence and Kelvin Bryant; Lawrence Taylor (at defensive line); linebacker Darrell Nicholson; Steve Streater (honored both as defensive back and punter).