| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | Purdue Boilermakers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 3–8 |
| Conf Record: | 2–6 |
| Head Coach: | Leon Burtnett |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | Bob Spoo |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Joe Tiller |
| Dc Year: | 4th |
| Mvp: | Rod Woodson |
| Captain: | Rick Brunner, Kevin Holley, Rod Woodson |
| Stadium: | Ross–Ade Stadium |
The 1986 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Leon Burtnett in his fifth and final season as head coach, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 2–6 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for eighth in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
See also: 1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Notre Dame–Purdue football rivalry.
See also: 1986 Northwestern Wildcats football team.
See also: 1986 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.
See also: Old Oaken Bucket.
Purdue wore gold jerseys; In his final collegiate game, Rod Woodson gained over 150 combined rushing and receiving yards, in addition to making ten tackles and forcing a fumble, leading Purdue to a victory over arch-rival Indiana. This 50th victory in the series, kept indiana from receiving a bowl berth and denied anthony thompson the Heisman Trophy.
See main article: 1987 NFL draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Cornerback | 1 | 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | |