November
After 5 straight weeks of major upsets, November 1 may have been the craziest day of all. Alabama, who had held the top ranking for 6 weeks, was knocked off by Mississippi State, 6-3. Having heard the news that Alabama lost, #2 UCLA went out and promptly lost to Arizona in Tucson, 23-17. USC and Nebraska re-entered the top 5. The new poll was 1. Notre Dame, 2. Georgia, 3. Florida State, 4. USC, and 5. Nebraska.
The madness continued on November 8 as new #1 Notre Dame was held to a 3-3 tie by Georgia Tech, dropping the Irish to #6. 2nd ranked Georgia trailed rival #20 Florida late in the game when QB Buck Belue hit WR Lindsay Scott on an out pattern; Scott turned up field and went 90 yards for the winning score in the season's most memorable play. It was Scott's only TD reception all season and it gave the Bulldogs a 26-21 win. Alabama would take Notre Dame's place in the top five of the new poll that was 1. Georgia, 2. USC, 3. Florida State, 4. Nebraska, and 5. Alabama.
The surprises continued the following week on November 15. #2 USC lost at home to Washington as the Huskies clinched the Pac-10 title. #6 Notre Dame went down to Birmingham and beat #5 Alabama 7-0; this win vaulted the Irish over Alabama, Nebraska, and Florida State to #2 in the new poll. Ohio State, who started at #1 and had just the one loss to UCLA, returned to the top 5 that was 1. Georgia, 2. Notre Dame, 3. Florida State, 4. Nebraska, and 5. Ohio State.
On November 22, in the showdown for the Big 8 title and Orange Bowl berth, #4 Nebraska was dumped at home by #9 Oklahoma, 21-17. In the game to decide the Big 10 title and Rose Bowl berth, #10 Michigan beat #5 Ohio State in Columbus, 9-3. #6 Pittsburgh returned to the top 5 by winning at #7 Penn State, 14-9. The new poll was 1. Georgia, 2. Notre Dame, 3. Florida State, 4. Pittsburgh, and 5. Oklahoma.
Although there were still games left to be played, the major bowls extended their invitations. Top ranked Georgia earned a Sugar Bowl berth by virue of its SEC championship and Notre Dame was invited to play them in a 1 vs. 2 matchup. #5 Oklahoma earned the Big 8's Orange Bowl berth and would play #3 Florida State. 6th ranked Michigan would face #16 Washington in the Rose Bowl, while #7 Baylor earned the Cotton Bowl berth by winning the SWC. Most people assumed #4 Pittsburgh would earn a major bowl bid and face Baylor, but the Cotton Bowl opted for #9 Alabama instead. The Fiesta Bowl also passed over Pitt, inviting #11 Ohio State and #10 Penn State (who had just lost to Pittsburgh). Thus, Pittsburgh had to settle for a Gator Bowl bid vs. #18 South Carolina and Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers.
On November 29, #17 USC spoiled the 1 vs. 2 Sugar Bowl matchup by upsetting #2 Notre Dame by a score of 20-3. The final regular season top five was 1. Georgia, 2. Florida State, 3. Pittsburgh, 4. Oklahoma, and 5. Michigan.
Read more about this topic: 1980 NCAA Division I-A Football Season
Famous quotes containing the word november:
“The recognition of Russia on November 16, 1933, started forces which were to have considerable influence in the attempt to collectivize the United States.”
—Herbert Hoover (1874–1964)
“It was always November there.”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)
“Necessity makes women very weak or very strong, and pent-up rivers are sometimes dangerous. Look to it!”
—Mary Worthington, U.S. women’s magazine contributor. The Lily, p. 183 ( November 1856)