The 1986 UCLA Bruins football team was an American football team that represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 11th year under head coach Terry Donahue, the Bruins compiled an 8–3–1 record (5–2–1 Pac-10), finished in a tie for second place in the Pacific-10 Conference, and were ranked #12 in the final AP Poll. The Bruins went on to defeat BYU in the 1986 Freedom Bowl. On November 1, 1986, UCLA's defense scored three touchdowns against Oregon State.