| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | Fresno State Bulldogs |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Pacific Coast Athletic Association |
| Short Conf: | PCAA |
| Record: | 9–2 |
| Conf Record: | 6–1 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Sweeney |
| Hc Year: | 9th |
| Stadium: | Bulldog Stadium |
The 1986 Fresno State Bulldogs football team represented California State University, Fresno as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Jim Sweeney, Fresno State compiled an overall record of 9–2 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, placing second in the PCAA. The Bulldogs played their home games at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California.
The following were selected in the 1987 NFL draft.[3] [4]
| Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL team | |
| Wide receiver | 3 | 83 | New York Giants | ||
| Wide receiver | 6 | 163 | New England Patriots | ||
| Quarterback | 7 | 180 | Dallas Cowboys | ||
| Defensive back | 8 | 213 | Los Angeles Rams | ||
| Linebacker | 8 | 217 | San Francisco 49ers |
The following finished their college career in 1986, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.
| Player | Position | First NFL team | |
| Anthony Mosley | Running back | 1987 Chicago Bears | |
| Cliff Hanneman | Linebacker | 1987 Cleveland Browns | |
| Greg Ramsey | Defensive end | 1987 Seattle Seahawks | |
| Defensive back | 1987 Los Angeles Rams | ||
| Jim Williams | Running back | 1987 Seattle Seahawks |