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American college football season
The 2018 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season . Led by Kim Dameron in his fifth and final season as head coach, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 3–8 overall with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the OVC. Eastern Illinois played home games at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois .
On November 18, Dameron was fired.[ 1]
On July 20, 2018, the media covering the OVC released their preseason poll with the Panthers predicted to finish in fifth place.[ 2] [ 3]
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Jacksonville State
134 (14)
2
Austin Peay
114 (1)
3
UT Martin
96
4
Tennessee State
91
5
Eastern Illinois 83
6
Eastern Kentucky
64
7
Murray State
39
8
Southeast Missouri State
35
9
Tennessee Tech
19
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Jacksonville State
126 (14)
2
Austin Peay
112 (4)
3
UT Martin
95
4
Eastern Illinois 73
5
Eastern Kentucky
69
6
Tennessee State
64
7
Southeast Missouri State
62
8
Murray State
24
9
Tennessee Tech
23
Preseason All-OVC team [ edit ] The Panthers had three players selected to the preseason all-OVC team.[ 4]
Offense
Isaiah Johnson – RB
Alexander Hollins – WR Defense
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 3:00 p.m. at Arkansas * SECN L 20–5563,342 September 8 6:30 p.m. at No. 19 Illinois State * NBCSC+ L 10–488,914 September 15 6:00 p.m. Indiana State * ESPN+ L 41–556,420 September 22 2:00 p.m. Tennessee State O'Brien Field Charleston, IL ESPN+ L 40–417,670 September 29 6:00 p.m. at Tennessee Tech ESPN+ W 52–387,184 October 6 6:00 p.m. Murray State O'Brien Field Charleston, IL ESPN+ L 41–483,063 October 13 3:00 p.m. at No. 8 Jacksonville State ESPN3 L 22–4915,649 October 20 2:00 p.m. UT Martin O'Brien Field Charleston, IL ESPN3 W 24–21 OT 7,413 October 27 12:00 p.m. at Eastern Kentucky ESPN+ L 23–314,400 November 10 1:00 p.m. Austin Peay O'Brien Field Charleston, IL ESPN+ W 52–212,149 November 17 1:00 p.m. at No. 23 Southeast Missouri State ESPN+ L 32–383,987 *Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
0
6
7
7
20
Razorbacks
10
28
10
7
55
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
0
0
10
0
10
No. 19 Redbirds
7
21
10
10
48
1
2
3
4
Total
Sycamores
17
14
14
10
55
Panthers
20
0
7
14
41
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
0
13
13
15
41
Panthers
17
7
7
9
40
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
7
14
10
21
52
Golden Eagles
10
0
7
21
38
1
2
3
4
Total
Racers
10
14
14
10
48
Panthers
7
10
17
7
41
At Jacksonville State [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
3
6
0
13
22
No. 8 Gamecocks
14
7
14
14
49
1
2
3
4 OT
Total
Skyhawks
7
7
0
7 0
21
Panthers
0
7
14
0 3
24
At Eastern Kentucky [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
10
7
0
6
23
Colonels
3
7
7
14
31
1
2
3
4
Total
Governors
0
7
7
7
21
Panthers
14
21
3
14
52
At Southeast Missouri State [ edit ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Panthers
7
0
10
15
32
No. 23 Redhawks
10
7
3
18
38
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
