2018 Murray State Racers football team

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2018 Murray State Racers football
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Record5–6 (5–3 OVC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorNick Coleman (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorJake Johnson (1st season)
Home stadiumRoy Stewart Stadium
Seasons
← 2017
2019 →
2018 Ohio Valley Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 10 Jacksonville State $^   7 1     8 3  
No. 15 Southeast Missouri State ^   6 2     8 3  
Eastern Kentucky   5 2     7 4  
Murray State   5 3     5 6  
Tennessee State   3 4     4 5  
Eastern Illinois   3 5     3 8  
Austin Peay   3 5     5 6  
UT Martin   2 6     2 9  
Tennessee Tech   1 7     1 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2018 Murray State Racers football team represented Murray State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Mitch Stewart and played their home games at Roy Stewart Stadium. They were members of the Ohio Valley Conference. They finished the season 5–6, 5–3 in OVC play to finish in fourth place.

Preseason[edit]

OVC media poll[edit]

On July 20, 2018, the media covering the OVC released their preseason poll with the Racers predicted to finish in seventh place.[1] On July 23, the OVC released their coaches poll with the Racers predicted to finish in eighth place.[2]

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 Colonels had two players selected to the preseason all-OVC team.[3]

Schedule[edit]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 306:00 p.m.Southern Illinois*ESPN+L 10–496,350
September 86:00 p.m.at No. 17 Central Arkansas*ESPN+L 13–266,121
September 1511:00 a.m.at Kentucky*SECNL 10–4848,217
September 296:00 p.m.UT Martin
  • Roy Stewart Stadium
  • Murray, KY
ESPN+W 45–3811,137
October 66:00 p.m.at Eastern IllinoisESPN+W 48–413,063
October 131:00 p.m.Tennessee State
  • Roy Stewart Stadium
  • Murray, KY
ESPN+W 45–213,318
October 202:00 p.m.at Eastern KentuckyESPN+W 34–610,440
October 273:00 p.m.No. 12 Jacksonville Statedagger
  • Roy Stewart Stadium
  • Murray, KY
ESPN+L 15–428,053
November 31:30 p.m.at Tennessee TechESPN+L 24–278,788
November 101:00 p.m.No. 21 Southeast Missouri State
  • Roy Stewart Stadium
  • Murray, KY
ESPN+W 40–382,087
November 174:00 p.m.at Austin PeayESPN+L 23–487,113
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Game summaries[edit]

Southern Illinois[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Salukis 7 21 14 7 49
Racers 3 7 0 0 10

At Central Arkansas[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Racers 3 10 0 0 13
No. 17 Bears 7 13 0 6 26

At Kentucky[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Racers 0 3 0 7 10
Wildcats 7 10 17 14 48

UT Martin[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Skyhawks 3 7 14 14 38
Racers 14 17 7 7 45

At Eastern Illinois[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Racers 10 14 14 10 48
Panthers 7 10 17 7 41

Tennessee State[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Tigers 14 0 0 7 21
Racers 3 21 14 7 45

At Eastern Kentucky[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Racers 0 10 14 10 34
Colonels 3 0 3 0 6

Jacksonville State[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 12 Gamecocks 14 7 7 14 42
Racers 6 3 6 0 15

At Tennessee Tech[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Racers 7 0 10 7 24
Golden Eagles 14 3 7 3 27

Southeast Missouri State[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 21 Redhawks 17 14 0 7 38
Racers 0 7 17 16 40

At Austin Peay[edit]

1 2 3 4 Total
Racers 10 7 0 6 23
Governors 14 7 7 20 48

Players drafted into the NFL[edit]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
3 98 Quincy Williams LB Jacksonville Jaguars

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Media Pollsters Tab Jacksonville State as 2018 OVC Football Preseason Favorites".
  2. ^ "Jacksonville State Picked as 2018 Ohio Valley Conference Football Favorites".
  3. ^ "SEMO's Terry, JSU's Bridges Named OVC Preseason Football Players of the Year".