Seasons 1979 Bowls & playoff ← Week 14 1979: Bowls & playoff 15 games. 10 ranked teams lost, four to unranked teams. Six games matched two ranked teams. Winners are listed first; numbers before names are AP ranks going in.
The week in review Ranked against ranked Jan 1, 1980 3 USC 17,1 Ohio State 16upset Rose Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 2 Alabama 24,6 Arkansas 9Sugar Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 5 Oklahoma 24,4 Florida State 7upset Orange Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 8 Houston 17,7 Nebraska 14upset Cotton Bowl Box score Dec 22, 1979 13 Washington 14,11 Texas 7upset Sun Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1979 19 Baylor 24,18 Clemson 18upset Peach Bowl Box score
Upsets Jan 1, 1980 3 USC 17,1 Ohio State 16upset Rose Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 5 Oklahoma 24,4 Florida State 7upset Orange Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 8 Houston 17,7 Nebraska 14upset Cotton Bowl Box score Dec 21, 1979 Indiana 38,9 BYU 37upset Holiday Bowl Box score Dec 22, 1979 13 Washington 14,11 Texas 7upset Sun Bowl Box score Dec 28, 1979 North Carolina 17,14 Michigan 15upset Gator Bowl Box score
A ranked team beaten as the betting favorite, or, where no line is on file, by an unranked or lower-ranked team.
FBS vs. FBS Dec 15, 1979 Syracuse 31,McNeese 7upset Independence Bowl Box score Dec 15, 1979 20 Temple 28,California 17Garden State Bowl Box score Dec 21, 1979 Indiana 38,9 BYU 37upset Holiday Bowl Box score Dec 22, 1979 LSU 34,Wake Forest 10Tangerine Bowl Box score Dec 22, 1979 Penn State 9,15 Tulane 6upset Liberty Bowl Box score Dec 22, 1979 13 Washington 14,11 Texas 7upset Sun Bowl Box score Dec 25, 1979 10 Pittsburgh 16,Arizona 10Fiesta Bowl Box score Dec 28, 1979 North Carolina 17,14 Michigan 15upset Gator Bowl Box score Dec 29, 1979 Missouri 24,16 South Carolina 14upset Hall of Fame Classic Box score Dec 31, 1979 19 Baylor 24,18 Clemson 18upset Peach Bowl Box score Dec 31, 1979 12 Purdue 27,Tennessee 22Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 2 Alabama 24,6 Arkansas 9Sugar Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 8 Houston 17,7 Nebraska 14upset Cotton Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 5 Oklahoma 24,4 Florida State 7upset Orange Bowl Box score Jan 1, 1980 3 USC 17,1 Ohio State 16upset Rose Bowl Box score