| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | Alabama Crimson Tide |
| Conference: | Southeastern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SEC |
| Aprank: | 9 |
| Coachrank: | 9 |
| Record: | 10–3 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2 |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Oc Year: | 4th |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Bryant–Denny Stadium (Capacity: 60,210) Legion Field (Capacity: 75,808) |
| Champion: | Sun Bowl champion |
| Bowl Result: | W 28–6 vs. Washington |
The 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA", "Bama" or "The Tide") represented the University of Alabama in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 94th overall and 53rd season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Ray Perkins, in his fourth year, and played their home games at both Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and three losses (10–3 overall, 4–2 in the SEC) and with a victory in the Sun Bowl over Washington.
After opening the season with a victory over Ohio State in the Kickoff Classic, the Crimson Tide won their first seven games and eventually rise to as high as No. 2 in the rankings but lost to eventual national champion Penn State[1] and lost out on an SEC championship after losses to LSU[2] and Auburn.[3] Highlights of the season included their first ever victory over Notre Dame and a 56–28 victory over Tennessee that snapped a four-game losing streak to the Vols.[4]
After the season, Ray Perkins resigned on December 31, to become head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League.[5]
See also: 1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team and Kickoff Classic.
See also: 1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
Homecoming
See also: 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Alabama–Penn State football rivalry.
See also: 1986 Auburn Tigers football team and Iron Bowl.
See main article: 1986 Sun Bowl.
See also: 1986 Washington Huskies football team.
See main article: 1987 NFL draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Outside Linebacker | 1 | 2 | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Freddie Robinson | Defensive back | 6 | 142 | Indianapolis Colts |
| Wide receiver | 6 | 156 | Minnesota Vikings | |
| Defensive tackle | 7 | 169 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| Linebacker | 9 | 229 | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Wes Neighbors | Center | 9 | 231 | Houston Oilers |
| Defensive back | 10 | 253 | Indianapolis Colts | |
| Quarterback | 12 | 313 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
General
Specific