1986 North Dakota State Bison football team

The 1986 North Dakota State football team represented North Dakota State University during the 1986 NCAA Division II football season, and completed the 90th season of Bison football. The Bison played their home games at Dacotah Field in Fargo, North Dakota. The 1986 team came off an 11–2–1 record from the previous season.^[1] The 1986 team was led by coach Earle Solomonson. The team finished the regular season with an undefeated 10–0 record and made the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Bison defeated theSouth Dakota, 27–7, in the National Championship Game en route to the program's second consecutive, and third NCAA Division II Football Championship.^[2]

1986 North Dakota State Bison football
NCAA Division II champion NCC champion
NCAA Division II Championship Game, W 27–7 vs. South Dakota
Conference	North Central Conference
Record	13–0 (9–0 NCC)
Head coach	Earle Solomonson (2nd season)
Home stadium	Dacotah Field
Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 North Central Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 North Dakota State $^	9	–	0	–	0			13	–	0	–	0
No. 6 South Dakota ^	8	–	1	–	0			11	–	3	–	0
Mankato State	6	–	3	–	0			6	–	4	–	1
South Dakota State	5	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Nebraska–Omaha	4	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
St. Cloud State	4	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Augustana (SD)	3	–	6	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Northern Colorado	3	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
North Dakota	2	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Morningside	1	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll

Senior quarterback Jeff Bentrim was awarded the inaugural Harlon Hill Trophy, which honors the best football player in Division II, at the end of the season. Bentrim ended the season with 64 career touchdowns scored, breaking Walter Payton's Division II record of 63.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	Northern Michigan*	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND	W 52–7	15,800	^[4]
September 20	at Mankato State	Blakeslee Stadium Mankato, MN	W 48–7	4,677	^[5]
September 27	South Dakota	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND	W 21–12	16,200	^[6]
October 4	at Northern Colorado	Jackson Field Greeley, CO	W 33–12	2,510	^[7]
October 11	at South Dakota State	Coughlin–Alumni Stadium Brookings, SD (rivalry)	W 49–7	10,734	^[8]
October 18	St. Cloud State	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND	W 49–7	16,000	^[9]
October 25	at Morningside	Elwood Olsen Stadium Sioux City, IA	W 63–0	520	^[10]
November 1	Nebraska–Omaha	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND	W 25–3	10,500	^[11]
November 8	Augustana (SD)	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND	W 25–0	2,800	^[12]
November 15	at North Dakota	Memorial Stadium Grand Forks, ND (Nickel Trophy)	W 62–13	6,000	^[13]
November 29	Ashland*	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)	W 50–0	12,090	^[14]
December 6	Central State (OH)*	Dacotah Field Fargo, ND (NCAA Division II Semifinal)	W 35–12	12,380	^[15]
December 13	vs. South Dakota	Braly Municipal Stadium Florence, AL (NCAA Division II Championship Game)	W 27–7	11,506	^[16]
*Non-conference game Homecoming

^[17]

References

1. "North Dakota St Bison College Football Scores, Schedules, and Analytics".
2. DeLassus, David (2016). . College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on July 17, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
3. "Honor goes to Bentrim". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. December 12, 1986. p. 1B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "N.D. State blasts Northern Michigan". Argus-Leader. Associated Press. September 7, 1986. p. 4B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Mankato no match for Bison". Sioux City Journal. Associated Press. September 21, 1986. p. B3. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Duncan, Pat (September 28, 1986). "Bison hold off Coyotes". Argus-Leader. p. 1B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Stark paces N.D. State". Argus-Leader. October 5, 1986. p. 4B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Jurgens, Dave (October 12, 1986). "Hobo Day ambush: N.D. State tames Jacks 49-7". Argus-Leader. p. 1B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Bison flatten St. Cloud State". Sioux City Journal. Associated Press. October 19, 1986. p. D2. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Hersom, Terry (October 26, 1986). "NDSU hammers Chiefs". Sioux City Journal. p. D1. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Bentrim has 3-touchdown day as Bison trample UNO 25-3". Sioux City Journal. Associated Press. November 2, 1986. p. 4B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Bison clinch share of title with 25-0 win". Argus-Leader. November 9, 1986. p. 1B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Bentrim sets mark, Bison whip Sioux". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. November 16, 1986. p. 1B. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "North Dakota State Wallops Ashland 50-0". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 30, 1986. p. 5F. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Central State's bid for title falls short". Springfield News-Sun. December 7, 1986. p. 3D. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "North Dakota State routs South Dakota for crown". The Index-Journal. Associated Press. December 14, 1986. p. 2F. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Final 1986 Division II Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 8, 2022.