1986 Northwestern State Demons football team

The 1986 Northwestern State Demons football team was an American football team that represented Northwestern State University during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Gulf Star Conference (GSC). Led by fourth-year head coach Sam Goodwin, the Demons compiled an 5–5–1 record, with a mark of 2–2 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the GSC.

1986 Northwestern State Demons football
Conference	Gulf Star Conference
Record	5–5–1 (2–2 GSC)
Head coach	Sam Goodwin (4th season)
Home stadium	Harry Turpin Stadium
Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 Gulf Star Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 11 Sam Houston State $^	3	–	1	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
No. 12 Nicholls State ^	2	–	2	–	0			10	–	3	–	0
Northwestern State	2	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	1
Southwest Texas State	2	–	2	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Stephen F. Austin	1	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	at No. 7 Arkansas State*	Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR	L 0–21	16,419	[1]
September 13	at McNeese State*	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA (rivalry)	W 9–3		[2]
September 20	Delta State*	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 29–10		[3]
October 4	at Northeast Louisiana*	Malone Stadium Monroe, LA (rivalry)	W 17–14		[4]
October 11	at North Texas State*	Fouts Field Denton, TX	L 3–24	13,600	[5]
October 18	Sam Houston State	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 31–23		[6]
October 25	vs. Louisiana Tech*	Independence Stadium Shreveport, LA (rivalry)	T 13–13	12,301	[7]
November 1	Southwest Texas State	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	L 6–29		[8]
November 8	No. 10 Nicholls State	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA (rivalry)	W 28–13		[9]
November 15	at Boise State*	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID	L 17–31	11,159	[10]
November 22	at Stephen F. Austin	Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX (rivalry)	L 14–28		[11]
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game