| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | Appalachian State Mountaineers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SoCon |
| Record: | 9–2–1 |
| Conf Record: | 6–0–1 |
| Head Coach: | Sparky Woods |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Stadium: | Conrad Stadium |
| Champion: | SoCon champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA First Round |
| Bowl Result: | L 26–28 vs. Nicholls State |
The 1986 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team was an American football team that represented Appalachian State University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their third year under head coach Sparky Woods, the Mountaineers compiled an overall record of 9–2–1 with a conference mark of 6–0–1, winning the SoCon title. Appalachian State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoff, where they lost in the first round to Nicholls State.