| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Incarnate Word Cardinals |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 6–5 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Cody Crill |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Justin Deason |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Def Scheme: | Multiple[1] |
| Champion: | Southland co-champion |
| Bowl Result: | L 14–35 vs. Montana State |
The 2018 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team represented the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Cardinals played their home games at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. They were led by first year head coach Eric Morris. They finished the season 6–5, 6–2 in Southland play to win a share of the Southland Conference championship. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, where they lost in the first round to Montana State. The Cardinals were set to play the Iowa State Cyclones during the first weekend in December, but the game was cancelled.
On July 12, 2018, the Southland announced their Preseason All-Conference Teams, with the Cardinals placing one player on the second team.[2]
Offense Second Team
On July 19, 2018, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Cardinals predicted to finish in ninth place.[3]
| 1 | Sam Houston State | 187 (10) | |
| 2 | Nicholls State | 173 (6) | |
| 3 | Central Arkansas | 170 (5) | |
| 4 | McNeese State | 159 (1) | |
| 5 | Southeastern Louisiana | 119 | |
| 6 | Stephen F. Austin | 90 | |
| 7 | Abilene Christian | 89 | |
| 8 | Northwestern State | 86 | |
| 9 | Incarnate Word | 53 | |
| 10 | Lamar | 52 | |
| 11 | Houston Baptist | 32 |
Source: [7]
| Name | Position | Alma mater | Joined staff | |
| Head coach | Texas Tech (2008) | 2018 | ||
| Josh Kirkland | Assistant head coach / running backs | 2018 | ||
| Cody Crill | Offensive coordinator | Angelo State (2002) | 2018 | |
| Justin Deason | Defensive coordinator | Central Oklahoma (2003) | 2018 | |
| Brandon Lechtenberg | Linebackers / special teams coordinator | 2018 | ||
| Rickey Hunley | Safeties / recruiting coordinator | 2018 | ||
| Brett Watson | Defensive tackles / camps coordinator | West Texas A&M (2009) | 2018 | |
| Darren Garrigan | Cornerbacks | West Texas A&M (2009) | 2018 | |
| Defensive ends | Louisiana-Monroe (1997) | 2018 | ||
| Jordan Shoemaker | Offensive line | 2018 | ||
| Wide receivers | 2018 | |||
| Quality control – Wide receivers | Incarnate Word (2015) | 2018 | ||
| Tad Blaylock | Director of football operations | Mississippi State (2012) | 2018 | |
| Tre Spragg | Graduate Assistant (Defense) | 2017 | ||
| Miguel Rodriguez | Graduate Assistant (linebackers) | UTSA (2014) | 2017 | |
| Bret Huth | Director of strength and conditioning | John Carroll (2010) | 2018 | |
| Administrative Graduate Assistant (Offense) | 2018 | |||
| Nathan Thompson | Administrative Graduate Assistant (Offense) | Incarnate Word (2016) | 2018 | |
| Anthony Marciano | Administrative Graduate Assistant | Incarnate Word (2018) | 2018 |
Source: [8]
The following Cardinals received postseason honors for the 2018 season:[9] [10] [11] [12]
STATS FCS All-American Third Team
RB Ra'Quanne Dickens – Senior
Hero Sports All-American Third Team
RB Ra'Quanne Dickens – Senior
Hero Sports FCS Freshman All-American First Team
QB Jon Copeland
AFCA Regional Coach of the Year
Eric Morris
Southland Conference Coach of the Year
Eric Morris
Southland Conference Freshman of the Year
QB Jon Copeland
All–Southland Conference First–Team
RB Ra'Quanne Dickens – Senior
WR Phillip Baptiste – Senior
OL Brandon Floores – Junior
DL Justin Alexandre – Senior
All–Southland Conference Second–Team
QB Jon Copeland – Freshman
OL Terence Hickman II – Junior
LB Silas Stewart – Senior
All–Southland Conference Honorable Mention
WR Kody Edwards – Senior
RB Ameer King – Freshman
DL Darrius Montgomery – Senior
LB Mar'kel Cooks – Junior
LB West Lambert – Junior
DB Malick Phillips – Sophomore
DB Louis Otis – Junior
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Participant
LB Silas Stewart – Senior
College Gridiorn Showcase All-Star Game Participant
DL Justin Alexandre – Senior
See also: 2018 New Mexico Lobos football team.
See also: 2018 North Texas Mean Green football team.
See also: 2018 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team.
See also: 2018 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team.
See also: 2018 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.
See also: 2018 Lamar Cardinals football team.
See also: 2018 McNeese State Cowboys football team.
See also: 2018 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team.
See also: 2018 Central Arkansas Bears football team.
See also: 2018 Montana State Bobcats football team.