1986 Memphis State Tigers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1986
| team = Memphis State Tigers
| sport = football
| image =
| image_size =
| conference = Independent
| record = 1–10
| head_coach = Charlie Bailey
| hc_year = 1st
| off_coach = Buddy Geis
| oc_year = 1st
| off_scheme =
| def_coach = Larry Coyer
| dc_year = 1st
| def_scheme =
| captain =
| stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
}}
{{1986 NCAA Division I-A independents football records}}
The 1986 Memphis Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was led by head coach Charlie Bailey. The Tigers played their home games at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1986
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 6
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Ole Miss
| site_stadium = Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Jackson, MS
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 6–28
| attend = 43,600
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greenwood-commonwealth-ole-miss-bree/134988732/|work=The Greenwood Commonwealth|title=Ole Miss breezes to easy victory|date=September 7, 1986|accessdate=November 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 13
| w/l = l
| opponent = Arkansas State
| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| gamename = Paint Bucket Bowl
| score = 10–30
| attend = 36,510
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89298604/|work=The Commercial Appeal|title=ASU takes MSU Tigers downtown|date=September 14, 1986|accessdate=October 8, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 20
| w/l = l
| opponent = Southwestern Louisiana
| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| score = 10–26
| attend = 22,944
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-eunice-news-cajuns-sack-memphis-stat/170671038/|work=The Eunice News|title=Cajuns sack Memphis State, 26–10|date=September 21, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 27
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Louisville
| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium
| site_cityst = Louisville,KY
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 8–34
| attend = 30,801
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-grudens-5-minute-flurry/170671331/|work=The Paducah Sun|title=Gruden's 5-minute flurry subdues Memphis State|date=September 28, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 4
| w/l = l
| homecoming = y
| opponent = Mississippi State
| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| score = 17–34
| attend = 35,148
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-mississippi-st/134949814/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Mississippi State rips winless Memphis State|date=October 5, 1986|accessdate=November 10, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 11
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Alabama
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Bryant–Denny Stadium
| site_cityst = Tuscaloosa, AL
| score = 0–37
| attend = 60,210
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71561592/bama-overwhelms-downtrodden-tigers/|work=The Jackson Sun|title=Bama overwhelms downtrodden Tigers|date=October 12, 1986|accessdate=March 27, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 18
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Southern Miss
| site_stadium = M. M. Roberts Stadium
| site_cityst = Hattiesburg, MS
| gamename = Black and Blue Bowl
| score = 9–14
| attend = 25,352
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74525989/tigers-gambles-fail-to-pay-as-southern|work=The Jackson Sun|title=Tigers' gambles fail to pay as Southern Mississippi wins|date=October 19, 1986|accessdate=March 27, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 1
| w/l = w
| away = y
| opponent = Vanderbilt
| site_stadium = Vanderbilt Stadium
| site_cityst = Nashville, TN
| score = 22–21
| attend = 35,672
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mememphis-state-gamble-si/134746432/|work=The Tennessean|title=Memphis State gamble sinks Vandy|date=November 2, 1986|accessdate=November 6, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 8
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Tennessee
| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium
| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN
| score = 3–33
| attend = 89,815
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110781445/vols-pocket-333-win/|work=The Herald|title=Vols pocket 33–3 win|date=November 9, 1986|accessdate=October 5, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 15
| w/l = l
| away = y
| opponent = Tulane
| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| score = 6–15
| attend = 23,614
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94460432/jones-leads-wave-win/|work=The Shreveport Times|title=Jones leads Wave win|date=November 16, 1986|accessdate=February 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 22
| w/l = l
| opponent = New Mexico
| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| score = 13–20
| attend = 16,330
| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-lobos-drop-memphis-state/170671161/|work=The Jackson Sun|title=Lobos drop Memphis State 20–13|date=November 23, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
}}
{{Cite web|url=https://gotigersgo.com/news/2010/5/19/1987_Memphis_State_Football_Media_Guide.aspx|title = 1987 Memphis State Football Media Guide}}{{Cite web|url=https://gotigersgo.com/documents/2020/8/31/2020_Football_Media_Guide.pdf|title=2020 Football Media Guide}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/1986-schedule.html|title = 1986 Memphis Tigers Schedule and Results}}