American college football season
The 2018 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Brock Spack, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for sixth in the MVFC. Illinois State played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.
Preseason
Preseason MVFC poll
The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Redbirds predicted to finish in fifth place.[1]
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
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
|
Preseason All-MVFC Teams
The Redbirds placed five players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.[2]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 1 | 6:30 p.m. | Saint Xavier* | No. 21 | | NBCS CHIC+, ESPN+ | W 46–0 | 9,157 |
September 8 | 6:30 p.m. | Eastern Illinois* | No. 19 | | NBCS CHIC+, ESPN+ | W 48–10 | 8,914 |
September 22 | 2:00 p.m. | at Colorado State* | No. 16 | | ATTSN | W 35–19 | 26,259 |
September 29 | 2:00 p.m. | at Missouri State | No. 9 | | ESPN+ | L 21–24 | 12,224 |
October 6 | 2:00 p.m. | Western Illinois | No. 15 | - Hancock Stadium
- Normal, IL
| NBCS CHIC, ESPN+ | W 33–16 | 8,516 |
October 13 | 2:00 p.m. | Southern Illinois | No. 12 | - Hancock Stadium
- Normal, IL
| ESPN3 | W 51–3 | 11,247 |
October 20 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 1 North Dakota State | No. 8 | | ESPN+ | L 14–28 | 18,553 |
October 27 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 7 South Dakota State | No. 11 | - Hancock Stadium
- Normal, IL
| ESPN3 | L 28–38 | 12,144 |
November 3 | 1:00 p.m. | at Northern Iowa | No. 14 | | ESPN+ | L 16–26 | 10,838 |
November 10 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana State | No. 23 | | ESPN3 | L 23–28 | 4,016 |
November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Youngstown State | | - Hancock Stadium
- Normal, IL
| NBCS CHIC, ESPN+ | W 35–28 | 6,072 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
|
[3][4]
Game summaries
Saint Xavier
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Cougars
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
No. 21 Redbirds
|
14
|
10
|
14
|
8 |
46 |
Eastern Illinois
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Panthers
|
0
|
0
|
10
|
0 |
10 |
No. 19 Redbirds
|
7
|
21
|
10
|
10 |
48 |
At Colorado State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 16 Redbirds
|
0
|
14
|
7
|
14 |
35 |
Rams
|
6
|
0
|
7
|
6 |
19 |
At Missouri State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 9 Redbirds
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
7 |
21 |
Bears
|
3
|
7
|
7
|
7 |
24 |
Western Illinois
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Leathernecks
|
6
|
7
|
3
|
0 |
16 |
No. 15 Redbirds
|
2
|
10
|
0
|
21 |
33 |
Southern Illinois
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Salukis
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
0 |
3 |
No. 12 Redbirds
|
7
|
24
|
7
|
13 |
51 |
At North Dakota State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 8 Redbirds
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
7 |
14 |
No. 1 Bison
|
7
|
14
|
7
|
0 |
28 |
South Dakota State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 7 Jackrabbits
|
7
|
21
|
7
|
3 |
38 |
No. 11 Redbirds
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
21 |
28 |
At Northern Iowa
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 14 Redbirds
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
13 |
16 |
Panthers
|
3
|
16
|
7
|
0 |
26 |
At Indiana State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 23 Redbirds
|
10
|
0
|
7
|
6 |
23 |
Sycamores
|
0
|
21
|
0
|
7 |
28 |
Youngstown State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Penguins
|
3
|
10
|
8
|
7 |
28 |
Redbirds
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
14 |
35 |
Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
---|
STATS FCS | 21 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 23 | RV | RV | |
---|
Coaches | 20 | 19 | 18–T | 15 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 22 | RV | RV | |
---|
References
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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