| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Team: | San Jose State Spartans |
| Conference: | Pacific Coast Athletic Association |
| Short Conf: | PCAA |
| Record: | 10–2 |
| Conf Record: | 7–0 |
| Head Coach: | Claude Gilbert |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Coach: | Sam Gruneisen |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Spartan Stadium |
| Champion: | California Bowl champion PCAA champion |
| Bowl: | California Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 37–7 vs. Miami (OH) |
The 1986 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by third-year head coach Claude Gilbert, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 7–0 in conference play, winning the PCAA title. As a result of the PCAA championship, the San Jose State qualified for a postseason bowl game against the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion Miami Redskins. The 1986 California Bowl was played in Fresno, California on December 13, with the Spartans victorious, 37–7. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.
No San Jose State Spartans were selected in the 1987 NFL draft.[3] The following finished their college career in 1986, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[4]
| Player | Position | First NFL team | |
| Guard - Center | 1987 San Diego Chargers | ||
| Kenny Nash | Wide receiver | 1987 Kansas City Chiefs | |
| Defensive back | 1987 Denver Broncos | ||
| Linebacker | 1988 San Francisco 49ers |