A total of sixteen teams contested the league, including ten sides from the 1979-80 season, two clubs relegated from the 1979-80 Yugoslav First League and four sides promoted from the Inter-Republic Leagues played in the 1979-80 season.
At the end of season the bribery scandal involving Maribor emerged, and caused the club to be relegated from second tier to third by the decision of the Football Association of Yugoslavia disciplinary committee.