The 1987 Jackson State Tigers football team represented Jackson State University as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 12th-year head coach W. C. Gorden, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 8âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 and a mark of 7âÂÂ0 in conference play, and finished as SWAC champion. Jackson State finished their season with a loss against Arkansas State in the Division I-AA playoffs.