1986 Carson–Newman Eagles football team

1986 Carson–Newman Eagles football
NAIA Division I national co-champion
SAC champion
Champion Bowl, W 17–0 vs. Cameron
ConferenceSouth Atlantic Conference
Record12–1 (6–1 SAC)
Head coach
Home stadiumBurke–Tarr Stadium
Seasons
← 1985
1987 →
1986 South Atlantic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Carson–Newman $^ 6 – 1 – 0 12 – 1 – 0
No. 12 Elon 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
No. 15 Mars Hill 4 – 3 – 0 7 – 3 – 1
Gardner–Webb 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Catawba 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Presbyterian 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Newberry 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Lenoir–Rhyne 1 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

The 1986 Carson–Newman Eagles football team was an American football team that represented Carson–Newman College (renamed Carson–Newman University in 2012) as a member of the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) during the 1986 NAIA Division I football season. In its seventh year under head coach Ken Sparks, the team compiled a 12–1 record (6–1 against conference opponents), won the SAC championship, and defeated Cameron in the Champion Bowl to win the NAIA national championship.[1]

It was the third of five national championships (1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1989) won by Carson–Newman during the 1980s.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6at Wofford*Spartanburg, SCW 17–15
September 13Georgetown (KY)*
W 38–14
September 27vs. ElonBurlington, NCL 12–15
October 4at CatawbaSalisbury, NCW 17–6
October 11Newberry
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 28–0
October 18at Mars HillMars Hill, NCW 10–7
October 25Gardner–Webb
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 51–24
November 1at Lenoir–RhyneHickory, NCW 24–6
November 8Liberty*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 34–205,483[2]
November 15Presbyterian
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN
W 19–0
December 6Shepherd*
  • Burke–Tarr Stadium
  • Jefferson City, TN (NAIA Division I quarterfinal)
W 30–102,649
December 13at Hillsdale*Hillsdale, MI (NAIA Division I semifinal)W 19–16 OT1,500
December 20vs. Cameron*
W 17–05,233[3]
  • *Non-conference game

References

  1. ^ "2010 Carson-Newman Eagles Football Media Guide" (PDF). Carson-Newman College. 2010.
  2. ^ "Eagles douse Liberty, 32–20". Kingsport Times-News. November 9, 1986. Retrieved March 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Steve Baker (December 21, 1986). "Carson-Newman blanks Cameron for NAIA title". The Herald Sun. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.