| Year: | 1987 |
| Team: | Youngstown State Penguins |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Short Conf: | OVC |
| Record: | 8–4 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Jim Tressel |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Jim Bollman |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Stambaugh Stadium |
| Champion: | OVC co-champion |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA First Round |
| Bowl Result: | L 28–31 at Northern Iowa |
The 1987 Youngstown State Penguins football team represented Youngstown State University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Jim Tressel, the Penguins compiled an overall record of 8–4, with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, and finished as OVC co-champion. Youngstown State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA first round and were defeated by Northern Iowa.