| Year: | 2018 |
| Team: | Youngstown State Penguins |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley Football Conference |
| Short Conf: | MVFC |
| Record: | 4–7 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Bo Pelini |
| Hc Year: | 4th |
| Off Coach: | Brian Crist |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Codef Coach1: | Richard McNutt |
| Codc1 Year: | 1st |
| Codef Coach2: | Donald D'Alesio |
| Codc2 Year: | 1st |
| Stadium: | Stambaugh Stadium |
The 2018 Youngstown State Penguins football team represented Youngstown State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by third-year head coach Bo Pelini and played their home games at Stambaugh Stadium. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in MVFC play to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place.
| Walter Payton Award[1] | Tevin McCaster | RB | SR |
The MVFC released their preseason poll on July 29, 2018, with the Penguins predicted to finish in fourth place.[2]
| 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 |
The Penguins placed six players on the preseason all-MVFC teams.[3]
Offense
1st team
Tevin McCaster – RB
Vitas Hrynkiewicz – OL
Gavin Wiggins – OL
Steven Wethli – LSDefense
1st team
Armand Dellovade – LB
2nd team
Bryce Gibson – DB
See also: 2018 Butler Bulldogs football team.
See also: 2018 West Virginia Mountaineers football team.
See also: 2018 Valparaiso Crusaders football team.
See also: 2018 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team.
See also: 2018 Southern Illinois Salukis football team.
See also: 2018 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team.
See also: 2018 South Dakota Coyotes football team.
See also: 2018 Indiana State Sycamores football team.
See also: 2018 North Dakota State Bison football team.
See also: 2018 Northern Iowa Panthers football team.
See also: 2018 Illinois State Redbirds football team.