The 1985 Arkansas State Indians football team represented Arkansas State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Larry Lacewell, the Indians compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 5–1 in conference play, winning the Southland title. Arkansas State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, where they defeated Grambling State in the first round and lost to Nevada in the quarterfinals.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	at Northwestern State*		Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 12–10	10,113	[1]
September 7	at Mississippi State*		Scott Field Starkville, MS	L 14–22	28,122	[2]
September 14	Mississippi College*		Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR	W 41–13		[3]
September 21	at Ole Miss*		Vaught–Hemingway Stadium Oxford, MS	L 16–18	29,912	[4]
September 28	at McNeese State	No. 6	Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA	L 13–15		[5]
October 12	North Texas State		Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR	W 56–0	16,211	[6]
October 19	No. T–8 Louisiana Tech	No. T–19	Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR	W 31–13	10,863	[7]
November 2	Texas–Arlington	No. 15	Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR	W 13–12	13,640	[8]
November 9	Southern Illinois*	No. 8	Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR	W 41–12	10,104	[9]
November 16	at Lamar	No. T–7	Cardinal Stadium Beaumont, TX	W 21–0	2,832	[10]
November 23	at Northeast Louisiana	No. 6	Malone Stadium Monroe, LA	W 31–23		[11]
November 30	No. 8 Grambling State*	No. 6	Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	W 10–7		[12]
December 7	at No. T–2 Nevada*	No. 6	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)	L 23–24	10,241	[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee Poll released prior to the game