The1979 Gator Bowl was acollege footballbowl game played on December 28, 1979. TheNorth Carolina Tar Heels of theAtlantic Coast Conference defeated theMichigan Wolverines of theBig Ten Conference, 17–15.

An 8-1 start (With a loss to #9 Notre Dame) had propelled Michigan to be ranked at 10th in the polls, before a loss to #14 Purdue followed by a loss to #2 Ohio State at home. This made them fall to 14th position in the polls and they finished as 3rd in theBig Ten Conference.

The Tar Heels had started with a score of 4-0 and were ranked #14 before a loss to Wake Forest started a 1-3-1 middle stretch that ended with victories over Virginia and Duke to make them finish 5th in theAtlantic Coast Conference. This was Michigan's first Gator Bowl appearance. This was North Carolina's third ever Gator Bowl appearance.

• No score

• Michigan - Virgil, 20-yard field goal
• Michigan -Anthony Carter, 53-yard pass from John Wangler (kick failed)
• North Carolina - Doug Paschal, 1-yard run (Hayes kick)

• North Carolina - Phil Farris 12-yard pass from Matt Kupec (Hayes kick)

• North Carolina - Hayes 32-yard field goal
• Michigan - Anthony Carter 30-yard pass from B. J. Dickey (B.J. Dickey pass failed)

• Summary at Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History

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