1987 Youngstown State Penguins football team

The 1987 Youngstown State Penguins football team represented Youngstown State University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by second-year head coach Jim Tressel, the Penguins compiled an overall record of 8–4, with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, and finished as OVC co-champion. Youngstown State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA first round and were defeated by Northern Iowa.