| Year: | 1998 |
| Team: | Illinois State Redbirds |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Gateway Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | Gateway |
| Tsnrank: | 16 |
| Record: | 8–4 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2 |
| Head Coach: | Todd Berry |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Coach: | John Bond |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Off Scheme: | Spread |
| Def Coach: | Dennis Therrell |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Def Scheme: | 4–4 |
| Mvp: | Kevin Glenn, Galen Scott |
| Captain: | Steve Farmer, Kevin Glenn, Jacob Niete, Chad Pegues |
| Stadium: | Hancock Stadium |
| Bowl: | NCAA Division I-AA First Round |
| Bowl Result: | L 28–48 vs. Northwestern State |
The 1998 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Todd Berry, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 4–2 mark in conference play, placing second in the Gateway. Illinois State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, losing to Northwestern State in the first round.[1] Illinois State was ranked No. 16 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of NCAA Division I-AA teams.[2] The team played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.