The 1986 College Football All-America team is composed of college football players who were selected as All-Americans by various organizations and writers that chose College Football All-America Teams in 1986. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recognizes five selectors as "official" for the 1986 season. They are: (1) the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); (2) the Associated Press (AP) selected based on the votes of sports writers at AP newspapers; (3) the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA); (4) the United Press International (UPI) selected based on the votes of sports writers at UPI newspapers; and (5) the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WC). Other notable selectors included Football News (FN), Gannett News Service (GNS), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), Scripps Howard (SH), and The Sporting News (TSN).

Consensus All-Americans

The following charts identify the NCAA-recognized consensus All-Americans for the year 1986 and displays which first-team designations they received.

Offense

Defense

Special teams

Full selections - offense

Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Centers

Offensive guards

Offensive tackles

Full selections - defense

Defensive ends

Defensive tackles

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Full selections - special teams

Kickers

Punters

Returners

Key

Official selectors

Other selectors