On July 20, 2018, the media covering the OVC released their preseason poll with the Panthers predicted to finish in fifth place.[2] On July 23, the OVC released their coaches poll with the Panthers predicted to finish in fourth place.[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 20–55 | 63,342 |
September 8 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 19 Illinois State* | | NBCSC+ | L 10–48 | 8,914 |
September 15 | 6:00 p.m. | Indiana State* | | ESPN+ | L 41–55 | 6,420 |
September 22 | 2:00 p.m. | Tennessee State | - O'Brien Field
- Charleston, IL
| ESPN+ | L 40–41 | 7,670 |
September 29 | 6:00 p.m. | at Tennessee Tech | | ESPN+ | W 52–38 | 7,184 |
October 6 | 6:00 p.m. | Murray State | - O'Brien Field
- Charleston, IL
| ESPN+ | L 41–48 | 3,063 |
October 13 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 8 Jacksonville State | | ESPN3 | L 22–49 | 15,649 |
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 23–31 | 4,400 |
November 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Austin Peay | - O'Brien Field
- Charleston, IL
| ESPN+ | W 52–21 | 2,149 |
November 17 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 23 Southeast Missouri State | | ESPN+ | L 32–38 | 3,987 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- 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 |
|
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 |