1986 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1986 Eastern Illinois Panthers football Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference GCAC 11–2 5–1 Al Molde 4th O'Brien Stadium GCAC champion NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 22–24 vs. Eastern Kentucky The 1986 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference (GCAC) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Al Molde, the Panthers played their home games at O'Brien Stadium in Charleston, Illinois. Eastern Illinois finished the season with an overall record of 11–2 and won the GCAC title with a mark of 5–1 in conference play. The team was invited to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they beat Murray State in the first round before losing to Eastern Kentucky in the quarterfinals. Schedule 1986 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee August 30 l y 18 Illinois State Hancock Stadium Normal, IL rivalry 20–23 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82661238/chicago-tribune/ Chicago Tribune Newspapers.com September 1, 1986 Illinois State quarterback will miss 4 weeks with broken collarbone September 6 w y 18 1986 Northeast Missouri State Bulldogs Northeast Missouri State O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL 41–31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82661353/the-rock-island-argus/ The Rock Island Argus Newspapers.com September 7, 1986 Eastern Illinois 41, NE Missouri 31 September 13 w y y 18 1986 Northern Michigan Wildcats Northern Michigan Memorial Field Marquette, MI 24–21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82661434/herald-and-review/ Herald and Review Newspapers.com September 14, 1986 Eastern wins 24-21 September 20 w Southern Illinois 20 O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL 52–7 10,100 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82661624/the-dispatch/ The Dispatch Newspapers.com September 21, 1986 E. Illinois 52, S. Illinois 7 October 4 w y 16 Liberty O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL 40–15 6,850 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-advance-lu-falls-to-eastern/144520759/ The News & Daily Advance LU falls to Eastern Illinois despite Johnson's passing October 5, 1986 March 31, 2024 Newspapers.com October 11 w 11 Northern Iowa 8 O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL 31–30 11,052 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-late-field-goal-sinks-no/160430584/ Quad-City Times Late field goal sinks No. 8 UNI October 12, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 18 w y T–9 Western Illinois Hanson Field Macomb, IL 37–3 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-eastern-illinois-bops-wes/160430709/ The Pantagraph Eastern Illinois bops Western October 19, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 25 w y T–8 Southwest Missouri State Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO 34–20 6,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-leader-and-press-bears-disco/160430873/ The Springfield News-Leader Bears discover unfriendly skies with Eastern October 26, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 1 w y 6 1986 Winona State Warriors Winona State O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL 64–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-warriors-whipped-6/160430977/ The Winona Daily News Warriors whipped 64–0 November 2, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 8 w y 4 Indiana State Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN 31–14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-eastern-illinois/160431079/ The South Bend Tribune Eastern Illinois tops Sycamores November 9, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 15 w y 4 Western Kentucky O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL 35–18 6,020 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-eastern-illinois-wins-10t/160417225/ The Pantagraph Eastern Illinois wins 10th straight November 16, 1986 December 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 29 w y 3 Murray State 18 O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL NCAA Division I-AA First Round 28–21 4,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-payron-e-illinois-vanq/143968057/ Chicago Tribune Payton, E. Illinois vanquish Murray St. November 30, 1986 March 23, 2024 Newspapers.com December 6 l y 3 Eastern Kentucky 10 O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 22–24 4,149 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-eastern-illinois/143963040/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Eastern Illinois eliminated when 2-point attempt fails December 7, 1986 March 23, 2024 Newspapers.com https://static.eiupanthers.com/custompages/football/2019/EIU_Football_Online_Guide_2019.pdf EIU Football Online Guide, 2019 Eastern Illinois athletics Roster 1986 Eastern Illinois Panthers f 2 Sr Roy Banks WR y 11 Jr Pat Carroll QB 78 Sr Chris Geile T y 44 Jr Dave Lewandowki WR 32 Jr Shon McCray TE 13 Jr Mike Milosovic WR 18 Sr Sean Payton QB y 63 So Dave Popp T 42 Sr Bob Bronaugh SS 59 Jr Bill Cochrane LB 12 So Scott Johnson FS 67 So John Jurkovic DT y 95 Jr Dave Lewandowki DE 75 Jr Walter Brzeski LS Al Molde References Eastern Illinois Category:Eastern Illinois Panthers football seasons Category:Missouri Valley Football Conference champion seasons Eastern Illinois Panthers football Eastern Illinois