The 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team consists of American football players chosen as All-Big Ten Conference players for the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season.
Three players were unanimously chosen as first-team players by the Associated Press media panel: quarterback Jim Harbaugh, receiver Cris Carter, and linebacker Chris Spielman.
Conference co-champions Michigan and Ohio State led the conference with seven first-team players each. Michigan's first-team selections included Harbaugh, Jumbo Elliott, Mark Messner and Andy Moeller. Ohio State's first-team selections included unanimous choices Carter and Spielman. Iowa followed with four first-team honorees, including running back Rick Bayless.
Offensive selections
Quarterbacks Jim Harbaugh, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1) Jim Karsatos, Ohio State (AP-2) Dave Yarema, Michigan State (UPI-2)
Running backs Darrell Thompson, Minnesota (AP-1; UPI-1) Rick Bayless, Iowa (AP-1) Jamie Morris, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-1) Larry Emery, Wisconsin (AP-2; UPI-2) Lorenzo White, Michigan State (UPI-2)
Centers Bob Maggs, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1) Ray Hitchcock, Minnesota (AP-2; UPI-2)
Guards Mark Hammerstein, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1) Jeff Uhlenhake, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2) Bob Kratch, Iowa (UPI-1) Troy Wolcrow, Minnesota (AP-2) Scott Kehoe, Illinois (AP-2; UPI-2)
Tackles Dave Croston, Iowa (AP-1; UPI-1) Jumbo Elliott, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1) Jim Hobbins, Minnesota (AP-2) Bob Riley, Indiana (AP-2; UPI-2) Paul Gruber, Wisconsin (UPI-2)
Tight ends Ed Taggert, Ohio State (AP-1) Rich Borresen, Northwestern (AP-2; UPI-1) Mike Flagg, Iowa (UPI-2)
Receivers Cris Carter, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1) Andre Rison, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1) Mark Ingram Sr., Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2) Steve Pierce, Illinois (AP-2; UPI-2)
Defensive selections
Linemen-outside linebackers Jeff Drost, Iowa (AP-1; UPI-1) Eric Kumerow, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1) Van Waiters, Indiana (AP-1; UPI-1) Dave Haight, Iowa (AP-1) Mark Messner, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-2) Bob Dirkes, Northwestern (AP-2) John Budde, Michigan State (AP-2) Kevin Holley, Purdue (AP-2) Mark Nichols, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-2) Darryl Lee, Ohio State (AP-2) Rick Graf, Wisconsin (UPI-2) Scott Davis, Illinois (UPI-2)
Linebackers Andy Moeller, Michigan (AP-1; UPI-1) Chris Spielman, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-1) Shane Bullough, Michigan State (AP-2; UPI-1) Bruce Holmes, Minnesota (AP-2; UPI-1) Michael Reid, Wisconsin (AP-1; UPI-2) Fred Strickland, Purdue (AP-2; UPI-2) Larry Joyner, Minnesota (UPI-2) Michael Kee, Ohio State (UPI-2)
Defensive backs Nate Odomes, Wisconsin (AP-1; UPI-1) Rod Woodson, Purdue (AP-1; UPI-1) Garland Rivers, Michigan (AP-2; UPI-1) Sonny Gordon, Ohio State (AP-1; UPI-2) Leonard Bell, Indiana (AP-2; UPI-2) Alex Green, Indiana (AP-2) Greg Rogan, Ohio State (UPI-2)
Special teams
Kickers John Duvic, Northwestern (AP-1; UPI-2) Chip Lohmiller, Minnesota (UPI-1) Rob Houghtlin, Iowa (AP-2)
Punters Greg Montgomery, Michigan State (AP-1; UPI-1) Tom Tupa, Ohio State (AP-2; UPI-2)
Key AP = Associated Press, selected by a panel of 17 sports writers and broadcasters covering the Big Ten
UPI = United Press International, selected by the conference coaches
Bold = Consensus first-team selection of both the AP and UPI
See also 1986 College Football All-America Team
References