| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | Michigan State Spartans |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Head Coach: | George Perles |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Off Coach: | Morris Watts |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Nick Saban |
| Dc Year: | 4th |
| Mvp: | Mark Ingram, Dave Yarema |
| Captain: | Shane Bullough |
| Captain2: | Dave Yarema |
| Stadium: | Spartan Stadium |
The 1986 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth season under head coach George Perles, the Spartans compiled a 6–5 overall record (4–4 against Big Ten opponents) and finished in fifth place in the Big Ten Conference.[1]
Six Spartans were recognized by the Associated Press (AP) and/or the United Press International (UPI) on the 1984 All-Big Ten Conference football team: receivers Andre Rison (AP-1; UPI-1) and Mark Ingram Sr. (AP-2); defensive linemen John Budde (AP-2) and Mark Nichols (AP-2); linebacker Shane Bullough (AP-2; UPI-1); and punter Greg Montgomery (AP-1; UPI-1).[2] [3]
Lorenzo White rushed for 79 yards on 19 carries in part-time duty in return from injury while the Spartans' defense intercepted four passes. White ran for first half touchdowns of three and one yards, respectively.[4]