1986 SMU Mustangs football team

The 1986 SMU Mustangs football team represented Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a member of the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by Bobby Collins in his fifth season as head coach, the Mustangs compiled an overall record 6–5 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the SWC.^[1]

1986 SMU Mustangs football
Conference	Southwest Conference
Record	6–5 (5–3 SWC)
Head coach	Bobby Collins (5th season)
Offensive scheme	No-huddle option
Defensive coordinator	Bill Clay (5th season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Texas Stadium
Seasons ← 1985 1989 →

1986 Southwest Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 13 Texas A&M $	7	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 15 Arkansas	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 12 Baylor	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Texas Tech	5	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
SMU	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Texas	4	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Rice	2	–	6	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
TCU	1	–	7	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Houston	0	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

After the season, SMU was sanctioned by the NCAA for repeated major rules violations. Since the most recent round of violations occurred after an NCAA rule involving punishing repeat offenders was instituted, the football program was not only hit with even harsher sanctions, but was also suspended from competition for the following season; the effects of the sanctions would eventually lead SMU to miss an additional season and resume play in 1989 under head coach Forrest Gregg, who was hired after Collins resigned in the aftermath of the investigation.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
September 13	at Rice		Rice Stadium Houston, TX (rivalry)	W 45–3	14,045
September 20	at No. 18 Arizona State*		Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ	L 0-30	70,511
September 27	TCU		Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (rivalry)	W 31–21	35,481
October 4	Boston College*		Texas Stadium Irving, TX	W 31–29	26,432
October 11	at No. 13 Baylor		Baylor Stadium Waco, TX	W 27–21	36,927
October 18	Houston	No. T–20	Texas Stadium Irving, TX	W 10–3	25,967
October 25	at Texas	No. 18	Texas Memorial Stadium Austin, TX	L 24–27	65,481
November 1	No. 10 Texas A&M		Texas Stadium Irving, TX	L 35–39	58,125
November 8	at Notre Dame*		Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN	L 29–61	59,075
November 15	at Texas Tech		Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX	W 13–7	35,887
November 22	No. 11 Arkansas		Texas Stadium Irving, TX	L 0–41	32,382
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Personnel

• QB Bobby Watters, Jr.
• OT David Richards, Jr.

References

1. "2020 Football Media Guide".