| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Western Illinois Leathernecks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVFC |
| Record: | 5–6 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Cooff Coach1: | Ty Howle |
| Cooc1 Year: | 1st |
| Cooff Coach2: | David Rocco |
| Cooc2 Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Tyler Stockton |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Hanson Field |
The 2018 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Jared Elliott and played their home games at Hanson Field. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). They finished the season 5–6, 4–4 in MVFC play to finish in fifth place.
| Buck Buchanan Award[1] | Khalen Saunders | DE | SR |
The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Leathernecks predicted to finish in seventh place.[2]
| 1 | North Dakota State | 390 (39) | |
| 2 | South Dakota State | 270 | |
| 3 | Northern Iowa | 258 | |
| 4 | Youngstown State | 248 | |
| 5 | Illinois State | 248 | |
| 6 | South Dakota | 206 | |
| 7 | Western Illinois | 163 | |
| 8 | Southern Illinois | 139 | |
| 9 | Missouri State | 90 | |
| 10 | Indiana State | 41 |
The Leathernecks placed five at six positions players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.[3]
Offense
2nd team
Sean McGuire – QB
Steve McShane – RBDefense
1st team
Khalen Saunders – DL
Justin Fitzpatrick – DB
Steve McShane – RS
2nd team
Quentin Moon – DB
See also: 2018 Montana State Bobcats football team.
See also: 2018 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.
See also: 2018 Montana Grizzlies football team.
See also: 2018 Youngstown State Penguins football team.
See also: 2018 Illinois State Redbirds football team.
See also: 2018 North Dakota State Bison football team.
See also: 2018 Missouri State Bears football team.
See also: 2018 Northern Iowa Panthers football team.
See also: 2018 Southern Illinois Salukis football team.
See also: 2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team.
See also: 2018 Indiana State Sycamores football team.
See also: 2019 NFL draft.
| 3 | 84 | DT | Kansas City Chiefs |