1986 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team

The 1986 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team represented Mississippi State University as member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Rockey Felker, the Bulldogs compiled a record of 6–5 with a mark of 2–4 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for seventh in the SEC.

1986 Mississippi State Bulldogs football
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	6–5 (2–4 SEC)
Head coach	Rockey Felker (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	David Rader (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Ronnie Gray (1st season)
Home stadium	Scott Field Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 Southeastern Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 10 LSU $	5	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 6 Auburn	4	–	2	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 9 Alabama	4	–	2	–	0			10	–	3	–	0
Georgia	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Ole Miss	4	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	1
Tennessee	3	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Mississippi State	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Kentucky	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	1
Florida	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Vanderbilt	0	–	6	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	at Syracuse*		Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY		W 24–17	34,216	[1]
September 13	at No. 8 Tennessee		Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	TBS	W 27–23	89,897	[2]
September 20	vs. Southern Miss*		Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS		L 24–28	50,000	[3]
September 27	Florida		Scott Field Starkville, MS		W 16–10	38,625	[4]
October 4	at Memphis State*		Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN		W 34–17	35,148	[5]
October 11	No. 2 (I-AA) Arkansas State*	No. 19	Scott Field Starkville, MS		W 24–9	33,500	[6]
October 18	at Tulane*	No. 13	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA		W 34–27	47,263	[7]
October 25	No. 7 Auburn	No. 13	Scott Field Starkville, MS	ESPN	L 6–35	42,700	[8]
November 1	No. 8 Alabama	No. 19	Scott Field Starkville, MS (rivalry)	TBS	L 3–38	42,700	[9]
November 15	No. 12 LSU		Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (rivalry)	TigerVision	L 0–47	48,000	[10]
November 22	vs. Ole Miss		Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS (Egg Bowl)	TBS	L 3–24	44,500	[11]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[12]

References

1. "Syracuse surprised in opener". Democrat and Chronicle. September 7, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Felker making many believers". Hattiesburg American. September 14, 1986. Retrieved October 5, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Eagles stop Smith, Bulldogs 28–24". The Clarion-Ledger. September 21, 1986. Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Bulldogs' defense stops Gators 16–10". The Palm Beach Post. September 28, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Mississippi State rips winless Memphis State". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 5, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "State blows away Arkansas State". The Clarion-Ledger. October 12, 1986. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "State rides Wave". Sun Herald. October 19, 1986. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Auburn passes another test". The Anniston Star. October 26, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Humphrey, Tide crush reeling 'Dogs". Clarion-Ledger. November 2, 1986. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "LSU clinches conference tie with 47–0 pasting of Miss. St". St. Petersburg Times. November 16, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Win pays off for the Rebels with bowl bid". The Commercial Appeal. November 23, 1986. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "1986 Mississippi State Bulldogs Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2023.