The 1980 Sugar Bowl featured the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, and the sixth-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks. Alabama defeated Arkansas, 24–9, winning their third national championship of the decade.

The Razorbacks entered the game at 10–1, sharing the Southwest Conference title with Houston. Greg Kolenda was an All-American offensive tackle. Arkansas' defense gave up 9.8 points per game on the year, the sixth-best scoring defense.

Alabama entered the game undefeated, and had won two national championships already in the decade. The Tide did have three close calls however, including a 3–0 win at LSU.

Arkansas scored first in the first quarter, on a 34-yard Ish Ordonez field goal, to give the Razorbacks a 3–0 advantage. Alabama running back Major Ogilvie scored on touchdown runs of 22 and 1 yard as Alabama led 14–3 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Alan McElroy kicked a 25-yard field goal giving the Crimson Tide a 17–3 advantage. In the third quarter, Kevin Scanlon threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Robert Farrell as the score became 17–9. In the fourth quarter, Steve Whitman scored on a 12-yard run as Alabama won by a 24–9 margin.

Ogilvie was named Sugar Bowl MVP. He rushed for a touchdown in three consecutive Sugar Bowls.

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