| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Northwestern State Demons |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southland Conference |
| Short Conf: | Southland |
| Record: | 5–6 |
| Conf Record: | 4–5 |
| Head Coach: | Brad Laird |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Brad Smiley |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | Spread |
| Def Coach: | Mike Lucas |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Stadium: | Harry Turpin Stadium |
The 2018 Northwestern State Demons football team represented Northwestern State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Brad Laird, the Demons compiled an overall record of 5–6 with a mark of 4–5 in conference play, tying for eighth place in the Southland. Northwestern State played home games at Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
On July 19, 2018, the Southland announced their preseason poll, with the Demons predicted to finish in eighth place.[1]
| 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 |
See also: 2018 Grambling State Tigers football team.
See also: 2018 Lamar Cardinals football team.
See also: 2018 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team and Northwestern State–Southeastern Louisiana football rivalry.
See also: 2018 Nicholls Colonels football team.
See also: 2018 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team.
See also: 2018 Central Arkansas Bears football team.
See also: 2018 Houston Baptist Huskies football team.
See also: 2018 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team.
See also: 2018 McNeese State Cowboys football team and McNeese State–Northwestern State football rivalry.
See also: 2018 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team and Chief Caddo.