Wilhelm's career as a collegiate mad bomber would begin in earnest in the sophomore 1986 campaign, when he topped a 60% completion rate and led not only the Pacific-10 Conference but the entire NCAA Division-I in attempts (470) and completions (283). Victories over Cal, Boise State, and BYU would highlight Wilhelm and OSU's 3–8 season, during which the southpaw threw a Conference best 2,871 yards. A poor ratio of just 8 touchdown passes offset by 17 interceptions would prove the main blemish on an otherwise promising year.