| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | BYU Cougars |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Western Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | WAC |
| Record: | 8–5 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | LaVell Edwards |
| Hc Year: | 15th |
| Off Coach: | Roger French |
| Oc Year: | 6th |
| Off Scheme: | West Coast |
| Def Coach: | Dick Felt |
| Dc Year: | 12th |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Stadium: | Cougar Stadium |
| Bowl: | Freedom Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 10–31 vs. UCLA |
The 1986 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 15th-year head coach LaVell Edwards, the Cougars compiled a record of 8–5 overall and 6–2 in conference play, placing second in the WAC. BYU was invited to the Freedom Bowl, where the Cougars lost to UCLA.
See also: 1986 Washington Huskies football team.
See main article: 1986 Freedom Bowl.
See also: 1986 UCLA Bruins football team.