Bowls and playoffs
The 1986 football postseason, including games played in 1987.
National championship games
Playoffs
Division I-AA playoffs
Division I-AA · National playoff
Final: Ga. Southern 48 · Arkansas St. 21
15 recorded games · View rounds and results
Final: December 20, 1986
Final site: Tacoma, WA
Division II playoffs
Division II · National playoff
Final: North Dakota St. 27 · South Dakota 7
7 recorded games · View rounds and results
Final: Date not documented
Final site: Florence, Alabama
Division III playoffs
Division III · National playoff
Final: Augustana (IL) 31 · Salisbury 3
15 recorded games · View rounds and results
Final: Date not documented
Final site: Phenix City, AL
Bowls
All-American Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Florida St. 27 · Indiana 13
December 31, 1986
Birmingham, AL
Aloha Classic
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Arizona 30 · North Carolina 21
December 27, 1986
Honolulu
Bluebonnet Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Baylor 21 · Colorado 9
December 31, 1986
Houston
California Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
San Jose St. 37 · Miami (OH) 7
December 13, 1986
Fresno, CA
Cotton Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Ohio St. 28 · Texas A&M 12
January 1, 1987
Location not documented
Florida Citrus Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Auburn 16 · Southern California 7
January 1, 1987
Location not documented
Freedom Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
UCLA 31 · BYU 10
December 30, 1986
Anaheim, CA
Hall of Fame Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Boston College 27 · Georgia 24
December 23, 1986
Location not documented
Independence Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Ole Miss 20 · Texas Tech 17
December 20, 1986
Location not documented
Liberty Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Tennessee 21 · Minnesota 14
December 29, 1986
Location not documented
Mazda Gator Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Clemson 27 · Stanford 21
December 27, 1986
Location not documented
Orange Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Oklahoma 42 · Arkansas 8
January 1, 1987
Location not documented
Peach Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Virginia Tech 25 · North Carolina St. 24
December 31, 1986
Location not documented
Rose Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Arizona St. 22 · Michigan 15
January 1, 1987
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Sea World Holiday Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Iowa 39 · San Diego St. 38
December 30, 1986
Location not documented
Sugar Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Nebraska 30 · LSU 15
January 1, 1987
Location not documented
Sun Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Alabama 28 · Washington 6
December 25, 1986
Location not documented
Sunkist Fiesta Bowl
Division I-A · Postseason bowl
Penn St. 14 · Miami (FL) 10
January 2, 1987
Location not documented
All-star games
Blue-Gray All-Star Classic
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
Blue 31 · Gray 7
December 25, 1986
Location not documented
East-West Shrine Classic
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
West 24 · East 21
January 10, 1987
Location not documented
Freedom Bowl All-Star Classic
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
MEAC 12 · SWAC 7
December 20, 1986
Location not documented
Hula Bowl
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
West 16 · East 14
January 10, 1987
Location not documented
Japan Bowl
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
West 24 · East 17
January 11, 1987
Location not documented
Senior Bowl
Collegiate all-star · All-star showcase
South 42 · North 38
January 17, 1987
Location not documented
This directory follows documented editions. Dates, results, and selection rules that have not been documented are marked on each event’s page.