1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1986

| poll = AP

| timezone = Eastern

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 6

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 6

| opponent = Temple

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| tv = TCS

| score = 45–15

| attend = 85,732

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-owls-are-a-tasty-feast-fo/170679569/|work=The Daily News|title=Owls are a tasty feast for Nittany Lions|date=September 7, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 20

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 5

| opponent = Boston College

| site_stadium = Sullivan Stadium

| site_cityst = Foxborough, MA

| tv = ESPN

| score = 26–14

| attend = 42,329

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/scrantonian-tribune-dozier-leads-nittany/170682302/|work=The Scrantonian|title=Dozier leads Nittany Lions past BC, 26–14|date=September 21, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 27

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 7

| opponent = East Carolina

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| tv = TCS

| score = 42–17

| attend = 84,774

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72734947/paterno-frets-about-easy-win/|work=The Times-Tribune|title=Paterno frets about easy win|date=September 28, 1986|accessdate=March 5, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 4

| time = 12:20 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 5

| opponent = Rutgers

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| tv = TCS

| score = 31–6

| attend = 84,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-lions-best-effort/170678091/|work=The Daily Register|title=Lions' 'best effort' too much for Scarlet Knights|date=October 5, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 11

| time = 12:20 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 5

| opponent = Cincinnati

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| tv = TCS

| score = 23–17

| attend = 84,812

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-penn-st-beats-bearcats/170677649/|work=The Daily News|title=Penn St. beats Bearcats, but it's anythng but easy|date=October 12, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 18

| time = 1:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = Syracuse

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = TCS

| score = 42–3

| attend = 85,512

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-no-6-penn-state-throttles-syr/170675716/|work=The State|title=No. 6 Penn State throttles Syracuse|date=October 19, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 25

| time = 3:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 6

| opponent = Alabama

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Bryant–Denny Stadium

| site_cityst = Tuscaloosa, AL

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 23–3

| attend = 60,210

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71561921/move-over-miami-state-bombs-bama/|work=Sunday News|title=Move over Miami: State bombs Bama|date=October 27, 1986|accessdate=February 20, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 1

| time = 7:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = West Virginia

| site_stadium = Mountaineer Field

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ESPN

| score = 19–0

| attend = 59,184

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-lions-defense-stifles-w/139992324/|work=The Daily News|title=Lions' defense stifles W. Virginia|date=November 2, 1986|accessdate=January 31, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 8

| time = 1:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 2

| opponent = Maryland

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = TCS

| score = 17–15

| attend = 85,561

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-terps-wage-battle/140057392/|work=Florence Morning News|title=Terps wage battle but lose to Penn St.|date=November 9, 1986|accessdate=February 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 15

| time = 3:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 3

| opponent = Notre Dame

| site_stadium = Notre Dame Stadium

| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 24–19

| attend = 59,075

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-not-enough-luck-for-i/170677025/|work=Detroit Free Press|title=Not enough luck for Irish|date=November 16, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 22

| time = 12:20 p.m.

| w/l = w

| rank = 2

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| site_stadium = Beaver Stadium

| site_cityst = University Park, PA

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = TCS

| score = 34–14

| attend = 55,338

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-no-1-miami-romps-past/170679167/|work=The Baltimore Sun|title=No. 1 Miami romps past Pitt, 37–10|date=November 9, 1986|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|January 2, 1987|Friday}}

| time = 8:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = Miami (FL)

| opprank = 1

| site_stadium = Sun Devil Stadium

| site_cityst = Tempe, AZ

| gamename = Fiesta Bowl

| tv = NBC

| score = 14–10

| attend = 73,098

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-penn-states-fiesta/170682983/|work=The Arizona Republic|title=Penn State's Fiesta|date=January 3, 1987|accessdate=April 19, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

{{See also|1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings}}

{{see also|1986 Temple Owls football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary (first night game in Beaver Stadium History)

|date=September 6

|time=7:00 PM EDT

|road=Temple

|R1=0 |R2=6 |R3=0 |R4=9

|home=#6 Penn State

|H1=21 |H2=3 |H3=14 |H4=7

|stadium=Beaver Stadium

|attendance=85,732

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=TCS

|TVAnnouncers=Stan Savran, George Paterno

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –
• PSU –

;Second Quarter

• PSU –
• TU –
• TU –

;Third Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –

;Fourth Quarter

• TU –
• PSU –
• TU –

|stats=

;Top passers

• TU –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• TU –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• TU –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• TU –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Boston College Eagles football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary

|date=September 20

|time=7:00 PM EDT

|road=#5 Penn State

|R1=9 |R2=3 |R3=7 |R4=7

|home=Boston College

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=7 |H4=7

|stadium=Sullivan Stadium

|attendance=42,329

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=ESPN

|TVAnnouncers=Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, Tim Brando

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –

;Second Quarter

• PSU –

;Third Quarter

• BC –
• PSU –

;Fourth Quarter

• PSU –
• BC –

|stats=

;Top passers

• PSU –
• BC –

;Top rushers

• PSU –
• BC –

;Top receivers

• PSU –
• BC –

;Top defenders

• PSU –
• BC –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 East Carolina Pirates football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=East Carolina vs. Penn State – Game summary

|date=September 27

|time=1:30 PM EDT

|road=East Carolina

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=3 |R4=14

|home=#7 Penn State

|H1=14 |H2=21 |H3=0 |H4=7

|stadium=Beaver Stadium

|attendance=84,774

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=TCS

|TVAnnouncers=Stan Savran, George Paterno

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –

;Second Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –
• PSU –

;Third Quarter

• ECU –

;Fourth Quarter

• PSU –
• ECU –
• ECU –

|stats=

;Top passers

• ECU –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• ECU –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• ECU –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• ECU –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary

|date=October 4

|time=12:20 PM EDT

|road=Rutgers

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=6

|home=#5 Penn State

|H1=14 |H2=3 |H3=7 |H4=7

|stadium=Beaver Stadium

|attendance=84,000

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=TCS

|TVAnnouncers=Stan Savran, George Paterno

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –

;Second Quarter

• PSU –

;Third Quarter

• PSU –

;Fourth Quarter

• RUT –
• PSU –

|stats=

;Top passers

• RUT –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• RUT –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• RUT –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• RUT –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Cincinnati Bearcats football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Cincinnati vs. Penn State – Game summary

|date=October 11

|time=12:20 PM EDT

|road=Cincinnati

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=7 |R4=3

|home=#5 Penn State

|H1=0 |H2=14 |H3=0 |H4=9

|stadium=Beaver Stadium

|attendance=84,812

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=TCS

|TVAnnouncers=Stan Savran, George Paterno

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

No scoring

;Second Quarter

• UC –
• PSU –
• PSU –

;Third Quarter

• UC –

;Fourth Quarter

• UC –
• PSU –
• PSU –

|stats=

;Top passers

• UC –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• UC –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• UC –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• UC –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Syracuse Orangemen football team|Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary

|date=October 18

|time=1:30 PM EDT

|road=Syracuse

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=3

|home=#6 Penn State

|H1=17 |H2=9 |H3=21 |H4=7

|stadium=Beaver Stadium

|attendance=85,512

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=TCS

|TVAnnouncers=Stan Savran, George Paterno

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU –

;Second Quarter

• PSU –

;Third Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –

;Fourth Quarter

• SU –
• PSU –
• PSU –

|stats=

;Top passers

• SU –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• SU –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• SU –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• SU –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama–Penn State football rivalry}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary

|date=October 25

|time=3:30 PM EDT

|road=#6 Penn State

|R1=0 |R2=14 |R3=3 |R4=6

|home=#2 Alabama

|H1=3 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=0

|stadium=Bryant–Denny Stadium

|attendance=60,210

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=ABC

|TVAnnouncers=Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• ALA – Tiffin, 40-yard field goal, (ALA 3–0)

;Second Quarter

• PSU – Dozier, 19-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–3)
• PSU – Thomas, 3-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–3)

;Third Quarter

• PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 17–3)

;Fourth Quarter

• PSU – Manca, 29-yard field goal, (PSU 20–3)
• PSU – Manca, 42-yard field goal, (PSU 23–3)

|stats=

;Top passers

• PSU –
• ALA –

;Top rushers

• PSU –
• ALA –

;Top receivers

• PSU –
• ALA –

;Top defenders

• PSU –
• ALA –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 West Virginia Mountaineers football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary

|date=November 1

|time=7:30 PM EST

|road=#2 Penn State

|R1=7 |R2=6 |R3=6 |R4=0

|home=West Virginia

|H1=0 |H2=0 |H3=0 |H4=0

|stadium=Mountaineer Field

|attendance=59,184

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=ESPN

|TVAnnouncers=Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, Tim Brando

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU – Dozier, 23-yard TD pass from Shaffer, Manca kick good, 10:55 (PSU 7–0)

;Second Quarter

• PSU – Manca, 42-yard field goal, 12:08 (PSU 10–0)
• PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, 7:59 (PSU 13–0)

;Third Quarter

• PSU – Manca, 22-yard field goal, 6:04 (PSU 16–0)
• PSU – Manca, 27-yard field goal, 3:13 (PSU 19–0)

;Fourth Quarter

No scoring

|stats=

;Top passers

• PSU –
• WVU –

;Top rushers

• PSU –
• WVU –

;Top receivers

• PSU –
• WVU –

;Top defenders

• PSU –
• WVU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Maryland Terrapins football team|Maryland–Penn State football rivalry}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary

|date=November 8

|time=1:00 PM EST

|road=Maryland

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=3 |R4=12

|home=#2 Penn State

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=10

|stadium=Beaver Stadium

|attendance=85,651

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=TCS

|TVAnnouncers=Stan Savran, George Paterno

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

No scoring

;Second Quarter

• PSU – Dozier, 1-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–0)

;Third Quarter

• MD – Plocki, 18-yard field goal, (PSU 7–3)

;Fourth Quarter

• PSU – Dozier, 9-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–3)
• MD – Joines, 16-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 14–9)
• PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 17–9)
• MD – Bonato, 27-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 17–15)

|stats=

;Top passers

• MD –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• MD –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• MD –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• MD –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Penn State vs. Notre Dame – Game summary

|date=November 15

|time=3:30 PM EST

|road=#3 Penn State

|R1=7 |R2=3 |R3=7 |R4=7

|home=Notre Dame

|H1=0 |H2=6 |H3=7 |H4=6

|stadium=Notre Dame Stadium

|attendance=59,075

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=ABC

|TVAnnouncers=Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU –

;Second Quarter

• ND –
• ND –
• PSU –

;Third Quarter

• ND –
• PSU –

;Fourth Quarter

• PSU –
• ND –

|stats=

;Top passers

• PSU –
• ND –

;Top rushers

• PSU –
• ND –

;Top receivers

• PSU –
• ND –

;Top defenders

• PSU –
• ND –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Pittsburgh Panthers football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Pittsburgh vs. Penn State – Game summary

|date=November 22

|time=12:20 PM EST

|road=Pittsburgh

|R1=7 |R2=0 |R3=0 |R4=7

|home=#2 Penn State

|H1=10 |H2=7 |H3=10 |H4=7

|stadium=Beaver Stadium

|attendance=85,722

|weather=

|referee=

|TV=TCS

|TVAnnouncers=Stan Savran, George Paterno

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

• PSU –
• PITT –
• PSU –

;Second Quarter

• PSU –

;Third Quarter

• PSU –
• PSU –

;Fourth Quarter

• PSU –
• PITT –

|stats=

;Top passers

• PITT –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• PITT –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• PITT –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• PITT –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{see also|1986 Miami Hurricanes football team|1987 Fiesta Bowl}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title= Miami (FL) vs. Penn State – Game summary

|date=January 2, 1987

|time=8:00 PM EST

|road=#1 Miami (FL)

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=3

|home=#2 Penn State

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=0 |H4=7

|stadium=Sun Devil Stadium

|attendance=73,098

|weather=

|referee=Jimmy Harper

|TV=NBC

|TVAnnouncers=Charlie Jones, Bob Griese, Jimmy Cefalo, Ahmad Rashad

|reference=

|scoring=

;First Quarter

No scoring

;Second Quarter

• MIA – Bratton, 1-yard TD run, Seelig kick good, 6:38 (MIA 7–0)
• PSU – Shaffer, 4-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 1:14 (TIE 7–7)

;Third Quarter

No scoring

;Fourth Quarter

• MIA – Seelig, 38-yard field goal, 11:49 (MIA 10–7)
• PSU – Dozier, 6-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 8:13 (PSU 14–10)

|stats=

;Top passers

• MIA –
• PSU –

;Top rushers

• MIA –
• PSU –

;Top receivers

• MIA –
• PSU –

;Top defenders

• MIA –
• PSU –

}}

{{Clear}}

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1986

| team = Penn State Nittany Lions

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=9|class=Jr|first=Mike|last=Alexander|dab=Mike Alexander (American football)|pos=WR|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=29|class=Fr|first=Sean|last=Barowski|pos=FB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=74|class=Jr|first=Stan|last=Clayton|pos=T|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=57|class=Sr|first=Chris|last=Conlin|pos=G|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=42|class=Jr|first=D. J.|last=Dozier|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=78|class=Fr|first=Roger|last=Duffy|dab=Roger Duffy (American football)|pos=C|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=54|class=Sr|first=Mitch|last=Frerotte|pos=G|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=27|class=Sr|first=John|last=Hornyak|pos=FB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=44|class=Sr|first=Tim|last=Manoa|pos=FB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=59|class=Sr|first=Dan|last=Morgan|dab=Dan Morgan (offensive lineman)|pos=G|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=89|class=So|first=Bob|last=Mrosko|pos=TE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=88|class=Jr|first=Paul|last=Pomfret|pos=TE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=56|class=Sr|first=Keith|last=Radecic|pos=C|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=6|class=Jr|first=Ray|last=Roundtree|pos=WR|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=14|class=Sr|first=John|last=Shaffer|pos=QB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=91|class=Sr|first=Brian|last=Siverling|pos=TE}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=35|class=Sr|first=Steve|last=Smith|dab=Steve Smith (running back)|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=79|class=Fr|first=Dave|last=Szott|pos=G|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=32|class=So|first=Blair|last=Thomas|pos=RB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=5|class=So|first=Michael|last=Timpson|pos=WR|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=66|class=So|first=Steve|last=Wisniewski|pos=G|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=72|class=Jr|first=Mike|last=Wolf|pos=C}}

| defensive_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=35|class=Jr|first=Trey|last=Bauer|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=70|class=So|first=Darryl|last=Bullock|pos=NT|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=16|class=Sr|first=Duffy|last=Cobbs|pos=CB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=43|class=Fr|first=Andre|last=Collins|pos=CB/S|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=31|class=Sr|first=Shane|last=Conlan|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=90|class=Jr|first=Pete|last=Giftopoulos|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=53|class=Sr|first=Don|last=Graham|dab=Don Graham (American football)|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=2|class=Jr|first=Stu|last=Helgeson|pos=S}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=3|class=Jr|first=Marques|last=Henderson|pos=H}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=22|class=Sr|first=Ray|last=Isom|pos=S|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=55|class=Sr|first=Tim|last=Johnson|dab=Tim Johnson (defensive lineman)|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=52|class=Jr|first=Gregg|last=Johns|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=84|class=Jr|first=Keith|last=Karpinski|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=21|class=Sr|first=Sid|last=Lewis|pos=DB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=92|class=So|first=Quintus|last=McDonald|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=33|class=So|first=John|last=Sweenely|pos=LB}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=19|class=So|first=Gary|last=Wilkerson|pos=CB}}

| special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=11|class=Sr|first=John|last=Bruno|dab=John Bruno (American football)|pos=P|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=10|class=Sr|first=Massimo|last=Manca|pos=PK|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=2|class=Fr|first=Ray|last=Tarasi|pos=K}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=68|class=Jr|first=Greg|last=Truitt|pos=SN|link=y}}

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Joe Paterno

| asst_coach =

• Tom Bradley
• Jim Caldwell
• Ron Dickerson
• Chet Fuhrman
• Fran Ganter
• Nick Gasparato
• Bob Phillips
• Joe Sarra
• Jerry Sandusky
• Paul Shaffner (GA)
• Jim Williams

| roster_url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515191951/http://www.nittanyanthology.com/86roster.doc

| accessdate= 2015-12-20

}}

{{Cite web|url=http://www.nittanyanthology.com/Home.html|title = Home}}{{cite web | url=https://www.libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/491.htm | title=ArchivesSpace Public Interface | Archival Collections }}

• Joe Paterno

::Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year

::Paul "Bear" Bryant Award

Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL draft.

{{Reflist}}

{{1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football navbox}}

{{Penn State Nittany Lions football navbox}}

{{College Football National Champion navbox}}

Penn State

Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons

Category:College football national champions

Category:Fiesta Bowl champion seasons

Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons

Category:College football undefeated seasons

Penn State Nittany Lions football