| Year: | 1953 |
| Team: | Western Illinois Leathernecks |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | IIAC |
| Record: | 8–2 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Vince DiFrancesca |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Stadium: | Hanson Field |
| Bowl: | Corn Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 32–0 vs. |
The 1953 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 8–2 record overall and a 5–1 record in conference play, placing second in the IIAC. They were invited to the postseason Corn Bowl, where they defeated 32–0.[1]