| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Eastern Illinois Panthers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Short Conf: | OVC |
| Record: | 3–8 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Kim Dameron |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | Scott Parr |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Cary Fowler |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | O'Brien Field |
The 2018 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by Kim Dameron in his fifth and final season as head coach, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 3–8 overall with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the OVC. Eastern Illinois played home games at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois.
On November 18, Dameron was fired.[1] He finished his tenure at Eastern Illinois with a five-year record of 27–30.
On July 20, 2018, the media covering the OVC released their preseason poll with the Panthers predicted to finish in fifth place.[2] On July 23, the OVC released their coaches poll with the Panthers predicted to finish in fourth place.[3]
| 1 | Jacksonville State | 134 (14) | |
| 2 | Austin Peay | 114 (1) | |
| 3 | UT Martin | 96 | |
| 4 | Tennessee State | 91 | |
| 5 | Eastern Illinois | 83 | |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky | 64 | |
| 7 | Murray State | 39 | |
| 8 | Southeast Missouri State | 35 | |
| 9 | Tennessee Tech | 19 |
| 1 | Jacksonville State | 126 (14) | |
| 2 | Austin Peay | 112 (4) | |
| 3 | UT Martin | 95 | |
| 4 | Eastern Illinois | 73 | |
| 5 | Eastern Kentucky | 69 | |
| 6 | Tennessee State | 64 | |
| 7 | Southeast Missouri State | 62 | |
| 8 | Murray State | 24 | |
| 9 | Tennessee Tech | 23 |
The Panthers had three players selected to the preseason all-OVC team.[4]
Offense
Defense
See also: 2018 Arkansas Razorbacks football team.
See also: 2018 Illinois State Redbirds football team and Mid-America Classic.
See also: 2018 Indiana State Sycamores football team.
See also: 2018 Tennessee State Tigers football team.
See also: 2018 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team.
See also: 2018 Murray State Racers football team.
See also: 2018 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team.
See also: 2018 UT Martin Skyhawks football team.
See also: 2018 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team.
See also: 2018 Austin Peay Governors football team.
See also: 2018 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team.