1986 Lamar Cardinals football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1986
| team = Lamar Cardinals
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Southland Conference
| short_conf = Southland
| record = 2–9
| conf_record = 0–5
| head_coach = Ray Alborn
| hc_year = 1st
| off_coach =
| oc_year =
| off_scheme =
| def_coach =
| dc_year =
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Cardinal Stadium
}}
{{1986 Southland Conference football standings}}
The 1986 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Cardinal Stadium now named Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, Texas. Lamar finished the 1986 season with a 2–9 overall record and a 0–5 conference record. The season marked the first year with Ray Alborn as Lamar Cardinals head football coach. The 1986 season was also the Cardinals' last season as a member of the Southland Conference in football until the 2010 season. Lamar joined the non–football American South Conference as a charter member along with fellow SLC members, Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State and three other universities.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1986
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA
| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 6
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Rice
| site_stadium = Rice Stadium
| site_cityst = Houston, TX
| score = 14–28
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-rice-awakens-to/160429951/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=Rice awakens to beat Lamar, 28–14|date=September 7, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 20
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = San Houston State
| site_stadium = Bowers Stadium
| site_cityst = Huntsville, TX
| score = 13–24
| attend = 7,800
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114741804/sam-houston-runs-past-lamar-2413/|work=Abilene Reporter-News|title=Sam Houston runs past Lamar, 24–13|date=September 21, 1986|accessdate=December 16, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 27
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| opponent = Stephen F. Austin
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| score = 25–38
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-sfa-38-lamar-25/160195008/|work=The Victoria Advocate|title=SFA 38, Lamar 25|date=September 28, 1986|accessdate=December 2, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 4
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1986|team=Texas A&I Javelinas|title=Texas A&I}}
| opprank = 2 (D-II)
| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| site_cityst = Beaumont, TX
| score = 10–35
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-ai-shreds-l/160430044/|work=The Corpus Christi Caller-Times|title=A&I shreds Lamar, 35–10|date=October 5, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Northeast Louisiana
| site_stadium = Malone Stadium
| site_cityst = Monroe, LA
| score = 21–22
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68970755/nlu-indians-top-lamar/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=NLU Indians top Lamar|date=October 12, 1986|accessdate=January 30, 2021|page=2C|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 18
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Southwest Texas State
| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| site_cityst = Beaumont, TX
| score = 17–3
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96974442/smith-sparks-lamar-over-sw-texas/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Smith sparks Lamar over SW Texas|date=October 19, 1986|accessdate=March 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 25
| w/l = l
| opponent = North Texas State
| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| site_cityst = Beaumont, TX
| score = 13–33
| attend = 3,121
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88034691/ntsu-romps-to-win-over-lamar-3313/|work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|title=NTSU romps to win over Lamar, 33–13|date=October 26, 1986|accessdate=October 30, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 1
| w/l = l
| opponent = Louisiana Tech
| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| site_cityst = Beaumont, TX
| score = 20–39
| attend = 3,225
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80940990/la-tech-30-lamar-20/|work=New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung|title=La. Tech 30, Lamar 20|date=November 2, 1986|accessdate=July 6, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 8
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1986|team=Central State Bronchos|title=Central State (OK)}}
| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| site_cityst = Beaumont, TX
| score = 47–23
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-csu-miscues-assist-l/160430162/|work=The Daily Oklahoman|title=CSU miscues assist Lamar in 47–23 win|date=November 9, 1986|accessdate=December 6, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 15
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Arkansas State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Indian Stadium
| site_cityst = Jonesboro, AR
| score = 7–56
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110927517/arkansas-state-56-lamar-7/|work=Abilene Reporter-News|title=Arkansas State 56, Lamar 7|date=November 16, 1986|accessdate=October 8, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 23
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = McNeese State
| site_stadium = Cowboy Stadium
| site_cityst = Lake Charles, LA
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 7–38
| attend =
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120184541/mcneese-defeats-cards-to-finish-long-sea/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=McNeese defeats Cards to finish long season|date=November 23, 1986|accessdate=March 4, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}