| Year: | 1987 |
| Team: | Lamar Cardinals |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 3–8 |
| Head Coach: | Ray Alborn |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Cardinal Stadium |
The 1987 Lamar Cardinals football team represented Lamar University in the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season as an NCAA Division I-AA independent. The Cardinals played their home games at Cardinal Stadium now named Provost Umphrey Stadium in Beaumont, Texas. Lamar finished the 1987 season with a 3–8 overall record. The season marked the first year competing as an independent. Lamar left the Southland Conference to join the non–football American South Conference as a charter member along with fellow former SLC members, Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State and three other universities.