The 1987 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team was an American football team that represented East Tennessee State University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1987 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Mike Ayers, the Buccaneers compiled and overall record of 5–6, with a mark of 2–5 in conference play, and finished seventh in the SoCon.