The 1980 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season.
Despite losing one game, the Panthers were named national champion by NCAA-designated major selectors DeVold System, Football Research, and The New York Times, while also named co-national champion by Rothman (FACT) and Sagarin.
Pitt was awarded the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the champion of the East.
The team is noteworthy for featuring four future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: linebacker Rickey Jackson, center Russ Grimm, tackle Jimbo Covert, and quarterback Dan Marino.
Several other players on the team, including Mark May and Hugh Green, would go on to be Pro Bowl NFL stars.