The 1980 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 10âÂÂ2 with a win over Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Seven Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1981 NFL draft.