1986 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

The 1986 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University as a member of the Gulf Star Conference (GSC) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Ron Randleman, the Bearkats compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, and finished as champion in the GSC. Sam Houston State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they were defeated by Arkansas State in the first round.

1986 Sam Houston State Bearkats football
Gulf Star champion
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 7–48 vs. Arkansas State
Conference	Gulf Star Conference
Record	9–3 (3–1 GSC)
Head coach	Ron Randleman (5th season)
Home stadium	Bowers 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	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	at No. 2 Nevada*		Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	L 7–35	11,680	[1]
September 13	Montana State*		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	W 23–6	11,500	[2]
September 20	Lamar*		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	W 24–13	7,800	[3]
September 27	Angelo State*		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	W 38–21	7,300	[4]
October 4	at Texas Southern*		Robertson Stadium Houston, TX	W 38–28		[5]
October 11	Central State (OK)*		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	W 27–17		[6]
October 18	at Northwestern State		Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	L 23–31		[7]
November 1	at No. 4 Nicholls State		John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA	W 41–38		[8]
November 8	Stephen F. Austin		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (Battle of the Piney Woods)	W 30–26		[9]
November 15	at Western Illinois*	No. 15	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	W 16–13	4,628	[10]
November 22	Southwest Texas State	No. 14	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (rivalry)	W 32–31		[11]
November 29	at No. 2 Arkansas State*	No. 11	Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 7–48	4,500	[12]
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game

^[13]