| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Western Carolina Catamounts |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SoCon |
| Record: | 3–8 |
| Conf Record: | 1–7 |
| Head Coach: | Mark Speir |
| Hc Year: | 7th |
| Off Coach: | Brad Glenn |
| Oc Year: | 7th |
| Off Scheme: | Spread |
| Def Coach: | John Wiley |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Scheme: | 3–4 |
| Stadium: | Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium |
The 2018 Western Carolina Catamounts team represented Western Carolina University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Mark Speir, the Catamounts compiled an overall record of 3–8 with a mark of 1–7 in conference play, placing eighth in the SoCon. Western Carolina played their home games at Bob Waters Field at E. J. Whitmire Stadium in Cullowhee, North Carolina.
| Walter Payton Award[1] | Tyrie Adams | QB | JR | |
| Buck Buchanan Award[2] | Marvin Tillman | S | SR |
The SoCon released their preseason media poll on July 25, 2018, with the Catamounts predicted to finish in fifth place.[3] The same day the coaches released their preseason poll with the Catamounts predicted to finish in fourth place.[4]
| 1 | Samford | 204 (20) | |
| 2 | Furman | 174 (2) | |
| 3 | Wofford | 163 (1) | |
| 4 | Mercer | 133 | |
| 5 | Western Carolina | 114 | |
| 6 | Chattanooga | 88 | |
| 7 | The Citadel | 83 | |
| 8 | East Tennessee State | 53 | |
| 9 | VMI | 23 |
| 1 | Samford | 63 (7) | |
| 2 | Wofford | 53 (1) | |
| 3 | Furman | 52 (1) | |
| 4 | Western Carolina | 39 | |
| 5 | Chattanooga | 34 | |
| 6 | Mercer | 32 | |
| 7 | The Citadel | 28 | |
| 8 | East Tennessee State | 15 | |
| 9 | VMI | 8 |
The Catamounts placed six players on the preseason all-SoCon teams.
Offense
1st team
Zach Weeks – OL
2nd team
Tyrie Adams – QB
Nathan Dalton – OL
Andrew Miles – OLDefense
1st team
Marvin Tillman – DBSpecialists
1st team
Ian Berryman – P
See also: 2018 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team.
See also: 2018 VMI Keydets football team.
See also: 2018 Furman Paladins football team.
See also: 2018 Samford Bulldogs football team.
See also: 2018 Chattanooga Mocs football team.
See also: 2018 Mercer Bears football team.
See also: 2018 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team.
See also: 2018 The Citadel Bulldogs football team.
See also: 2018 Wofford Terriers football team.
See also: 2018 North Carolina Tar Heels football team.