The 1986 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship: A Season of Triumphs and Defining Moments

The 1986 NCAA football season was a year marked by compelling matchups, surprising upsets, and dominant performances across various divisions. From Division I-A, where Penn State claimed the national championship, to Division I-AA, where Georgia Southern emerged victorious, the season delivered a series of memorable moments. This article delves into the details of the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship, highlighting the participating teams, their paths to the final, and the game itself.

The Road to the Championship: Division I-AA

The 1986 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game featured a clash between the Arkansas State Indians (now the Arkansas State Red Wolves) and the Georgia Southern Eagles. Both teams had impressive regular seasons and navigated a challenging playoff bracket to reach the final.

Arkansas State Indians

Arkansas State concluded their regular season with a solid 9-1-1 record, showcasing their strength within their conference with a 5-0 standing. Their schedule included three encounters against Division I-A programs, resulting in a mixed bag of outcomes: a victory over Memphis, a loss to Mississippi State, and a tie against Ole Miss. Ranked second in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll and seeded second in the tournament, the Indians demonstrated their prowess by defeating Sam Houston State, Delaware, and Eastern Kentucky to secure their spot in the championship game.

Georgia Southern Eagles

Georgia Southern finished their regular season with a 9-2 record. The Eagles faced two Division I-A programs, losing to both Florida and East Carolina. Ranked fourth in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll and seeded fourth in the tournament, Georgia Southern defeated North Carolina A&T, Nicholls State, and top-seed Nevada to reach the final.

The 1986 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game

The 1986 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game was a testament to the hard work and determination of both Arkansas State and Georgia Southern. The game took place on December 19, 1986, but the venue is not specified in the provided text.

Division I-A Season Overview

While the focus of this article is the Division I-AA championship, it's worth noting the landscape of Division I-A football in 1986. The season culminated in a dramatic Fiesta Bowl where the Penn State Nittany Lions, coached by Joe Paterno, defeated the Miami Hurricanes 14-10 to win the national championship.

Preseason and Early Season

Defending champion Oklahoma was No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll, followed by No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Miami (FL), No. 4 UCLA, and No. 5 Alabama. Early-season games saw Oklahoma dominating UCLA, Miami (FL) winning against Florida, and Alabama defeating Vanderbilt.

Key Games and Turning Points

A significant game occurred on September 27 when No. 1 Oklahoma faced No. 2 Miami (FL). Miami emerged victorious with a 28-16 win, led by Vinny Testaverde. Another pivotal moment was on October 25 when No. 6 Penn State defeated No. 2 Alabama 23-3.

The Rise of Penn State

The 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions, led by coach Joe Paterno, achieved a perfect 12-0 record. Key players included linebacker Shane Conlan, quarterback John Shaffer, running back Steve Smith, and defensive lineman Bob White. Their signature win of the 1986 regular season came in Tuscaloosa against No. 2 Alabama.

Bowl Games and Championship

The 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Penn State winning the national championship. They defeated Miami (Fl) 14-10 in the Fiesta Bowl. Despite all the hype surrounding Miami, Penn State's defense harassed Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde throughout the Fiesta Bowl. Other notable bowl games included the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, and Orange Bowl.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Division III Dominance: Augustana College

It's also worth noting the remarkable achievement of Augustana College in Division III football. As the final gun sounded to end the 1986 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl the seniors on the Augustana College football team became a part of history. When tri-captains Troy Westerman, Lynn Thomsen and Brad Price picked up the NCAA Division III national championship trophy, it marked the first time collegiate football history that one class had a hand in four straight national titles. No school in college football history had ever sent an entire class through all four years with national championships.

A Legacy of Success

The Vikings lost in the 1982 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl to West Georgia by a score of 14-0. In 1983 the Vikings went 12-0 and beat Union of New York 21-17 for the title. In 1984 Augustana went 12-0 once again and this time beat Central of Iowa 21-12 for the title. The record moved to 13-0 in 1985 as the Vikings beat Ithaca of New York by a score of 20-7 for the crown. The seniors totaled 14 on the 1986 team and they had a hand in a record that can only grow in magnitude. A shocking 0-0 tie to Elmhurst to open the 1985 season was the difference between a 50 game winning streak and a 50 game unbeaten string.

Key Players and Strategies

Once again head coach Bob Reade used his usual combination of a punishing rushing attack mixed with a smothering defense to lead the Vikings to a sixth straight undefeated regular season. Price led the Augustana offense for the third year in a row from his halfback position. He picked up 1,218 yards on 226 carries and scored 18 touchdowns for a total of 108 points. While it took the offense a few games to get into the groove, the defense never missed a beat. In four playoff games against the finest teams in the nation, Augustana allowed a total of just 27 points. Running against the Vikings was virtually impossible as opponents could gain just 331 yards on 398 attempts for an average of 0.8 yards per carry. Passing was equally dangerous as Augustana defenders intercepted 42 passes. Throw in the 21 fumble recoveries and that equals 63 turnovers generated, or nearly five a game. Tackle Lynn Thomsen anchored the defense as he had been doing for four years.

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