The problem is either coming from your psu or gpu. Testing the 980 ti in another known working rig will tell you where the problem is coming from.

Welcome to the EVGA Forums Sikath
 
Unless that 80 C is instant as soon as game starts - its not an issue
 
If you cann't test GPU in a different PC as mentioned above by Sajin -- I'd recommend testing with a new PSU
 
Note:  Only use the power cables that come with the PSU
 
If that is not an option; you would need to take it to a repair shop for testing
 
I'd bet on it being the PSU or even a bad PCIe cable or cable connection --- what PSU do you have & how old is it ?
 
Is power at the wall plate / outlet stable ?

Sadly I cannot try in another PC/Have another card to use. I did just boot into NS2 but put the graphics to low and it worked fine (I was able to load into a game, jump, run etc), but when I switched it to high, I had that same error of kicking me back to the menu but cant see anything. I dont know if that helps narrow it down.
 
Cool GTX - PSU and GPU were purchased in November of 2015. So for the card I believe I am at the tail end of the warranty.

have you looked at forums of them games  at stuff like this ?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ns2/comments/77vpf6/so_many_crashes/?st=jkx1tl5s&sh=ba13c268
 
https://steamcommunity.com/app/4920/discussions/1/2119355556478231373/
 
seems a lot of guys have issue with it / them ?
 
what about something outside of them games  like heaven or fire strike  bench  at your best highest settings ?  same issue or stavble ?
 
use to get a stress test with fire strike  , but like mark3d gets cheap with there offerings like taking stuff away unless you pay or become a member just to look over scores now  that use to be accessible non member .  [glad I got a early one and not updated it ]
 
maybe like this from my 980 ti [stock ] as a example of the stress test
 
https://imgur.com/GhAahFH
 
if something else like firestrike or heaven , valley or outher games  run stable  maybe just those software's  not hardware issues  in them certain games  .   if issues with everything just about maybe the cards meet its end .    you see a lot of 900 card failings here the past year .  seems to be a 3 year and your out series  ...lol....

Hey Guys,
 
I ended up sending in the card for warranty since it was getting close to the end.
 
NS2 wasnt the only game that crashed. I would have others that locked up and made a very loud screeching nail on chalkboard noise. This was even when I had initially purchased it. I figured it some a driver issue and over time it went away. It then recently came back, then got better, then got worse. It was really odd. 
 
When I get the card back I will do tests on it and see if it was the card or my PSU (also EVGA) 

Sikath
Got the card back today, was a replacement. On my initial test of playing a game, everything went black, but I could see my house cursor. But was unable to do anything else. I did a restart and was able to play a full game no problem. So hopefully this solved my issues.
 
Thanks again for the suggestions and thanks again to EVGA for the quick support and turn around times.

Hopefully that black screen issue was just a fluke.

WhoCrashed
 
Remove All system OC
 
set RAM values manually including Voltage
 
run benchmarks

had the same thing happen to me pretty much and it was a dead PS