1986 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

1986 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football
Yankee Conference co-champion
NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal, L 14–55 vs. Arkansas State
Conference	Yankee Conference
Record	9–4 (5–2 Yankee)
Head coach	Tubby Raymond (21st season)
Offensive coordinator	Ted Kempski (19th season)
Offensive scheme	Delaware Wing-T
Home stadium	Delaware Stadium

1986 Yankee Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 13 Delaware +^	5	–	2	–	0			9	–	4	–	0
No. 19 Connecticut +	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
UMass +	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
New Hampshire	4	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Maine	3	–	4	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Richmond	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Boston University	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Rhode Island	0	–	7	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

The 1986 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team represented the University of Delaware in the 1986 NCAA Division I-AA football season. It was the program's first year as a member of the Yankee Conference, after having been an independent for the previous 16 seasons. Delaware was led by Tubby Raymond, who was in his 21st season as head coach of the Fightin' Blue Hens. Quarterback Rich Gannon was a senior, and followed this season with an 18-year NFL career. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	Rhode Island	No. 6	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	W 44–10	17,337
September 13	New Hampshire	No. 6	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	L 21–28 OT
September 20	West Chester*	No. 13	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE (rivalry)	W 33–31
September 27	at Richmond	No. 19	University of Richmond Stadium Richmond, VA	W 20–19	17,423
October 11	at UMass	No. 15	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	W 41–13	13,888
October 18	No. 4 William & Mary*	No. T–14	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE (rivalry)	L 18–24	23,045
October 25	Lehigh*	No. 16	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE (rivalry)	W 28–17	17,685
November 1	at Maine	No. 15	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 34–31
November 8	Connecticut	No. T–14	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	W 35–7
November 15	at Navy*	No. 12	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	W 27–14
November 22	at Boston University	No. 11	Nickerson Field Boston, MA	L 35–45
November 29	at No. 8 William & Mary*	No. 13	Cary Field Williamsburg, VA (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	W 51–17
December 6	No. 2 Arkansas State*	No. 13	Delaware Stadium Newark, Delaware (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)	L 14–55	12,018
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game