1986 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1986 Georgia Southern Eagles football Georgia Southern Eagles wordmark.svg Independent 13–2 Erk Russell 5th Paul Johnson 2nd Option Len Gravelson 2nd 4–4 Paulson Stadium NCAA Division I-AA champion NCAA Division I-AA Championship W 48–21 vs. Arkansas State 4 The 1986 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented the Georgia Southern Eagles of Georgia Southern College (now known as Georgia Southern University) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. The team was coached by Erk Russell, in his fifth year as head coach for the Eagles. Schedule 1986 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Eastern August 30 l y 1 Florida 13 (I-A) Florida Field Gainesville FL 14–38 74,221 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-big-game-for-go/135002974/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Big game for goliath: Gators 38, Eagles 14 August 31, 1986 November 11, 2023 Newspapers.com September 13 w y 1 Florida A&M Gator Bowl Jacksonville, FL Bold City Classic 35–12 21,982 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-hambone-whacks-famu/160409754/ Tallahassee Democrat Hambone whacks FAMU September 14, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com September 20 w y 4 Middle Tennessee 17 Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN 34–31 11,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-georgia-southern-slips-pa/160411470/ The Tennessean Georgia Southern slips past MTSU September 21, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com September 27 w 4 Chattanooga Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 34–14 15,235 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-georgia-southern-win/160256782/ The Idaho Statesman Georgia Southern wins easily over Tennessee–Chattanooga September 28, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 4 w y 4 Tennessee Tech Tucker Stadium Cookeville, TN 59–13 6,211 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-georgia-souther/160411701/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Georgia Southern rallies to win big October 5, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 w 3 Bethune–Cookman Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 52–31 14,321 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-ham-georgia-southern-wh/154884824/ St. Petersburg Times Ham, Georgia Southern whip Bethune–Cookman October 12, 1986 September 8, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 l y 2 East Carolina Ficklen Memorial Stadium Greenville, NC 33–35 27,121 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72735664/ga-southern-falls-as-ecu-ends-15-loss/ The Atlanta Constitution Ga. Southern falls as ECU ends 15-loss streak October 19, 1986 March 5, 2021 Newspapers.com November 1 w y 9 Western Kentucky L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY 49–32 13,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-not-to-be-ham-wont/160411812/ The Courier-Journal Not to be: Ham won't let Western pull off upset November 2, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 8 w y 5 UCF Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL 33–23 11,137 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-eagles-fly-high-3323/160411878/ Florida Today Eagles fly high, 33–23 November 9, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 15 w 5 James Madison Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 45–35 16,135 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86967221/defenseless-ga-southern-survives-james/ The Atlanta Constitution Defenseless Ga. Southern survives James Madison 45–35 November 16, 1986 October 12, 2021 Newspapers.com November 22 w 5 South Carolina State Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA 28–7 12,585 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-southerns-defense-b/154884115/ The Macon Telegraph & News Southern's defense beats S.C. State 28–7 November 23, 1986 September 8, 2024 Newspapers.com November 29 w 4 North Carolina A&T 20 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 52–21 7,767 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-macon-telegraph-southern-buries-aggi/143874782/ The Macon Telegraph & News Southern buries Aggies 52–21 November 30, 1986 March 22, 2024 Newspapers.com December 6 w 4 Nicholls State 12 Paulson Stadium Statesboro, GA NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 55–31 9,121 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-georgia-southern/160196703/ The Charlotte Observer Georgia Southern in semifinals December 7, 1986 December 2, 2024 Newspapers.com December 13 w y 4 Nevada 1 Mackay Stadium Reno, NV NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 48–38 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-ham-leading-eagles-back/160317308/ The News Tribune Ham leading Eagles back to Tacoma December 14, 1986 December 4, 2024 Newspapers.com December 19 w y 4 Arkansas State 2 Tacoma Dome Tacoma, WA NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game 48–21 4,419 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31182822/georgia_southern_goes_for_2ndstraight/ Georgia Southern goes for 2nd-straight title AP The News-Press Fort Myers, Florida 5C December 19, 1986 May 2, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/31182882/georgia_southern_wins_iaa_football/ Georgia Southern wins I-AA football crown Reno Gazette-Journal Reno, Nevada 1B December 20, 1986 May 2, 2019 newspapers.comhttps://s3.amazonaws.com/gatadb/gamereports/1986/19861220_arkansas_state_complete.pdf NCAA Official Scoring Summary December 19, 1986 May 2, 2019 Amazon Web Services 1986 Football Schedule https://gseagles.com/sports/football/schedule/1986 Georgia Southern University July 11, 2025 2024 Football Media Guide https://gseagles.com/documents/2024/7/16/2024GSFB_Guide.pdf Georgia Southern University 126 July 11, 2025 References External links 1986 Football Media Guide at gseagles.com Georgia Southern Category:Georgia Southern Eagles football seasons Category:NCAA Division I Football Champions Georgia Southern Eagles football Category:Long stubs with short prose Georgia Southern