The 2018 East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team represented East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season and were in the third year of their second stint as football members of the Southern Conference (SoCon). They were led by first-year head coach Randy Sanders and played their home games at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.[1] They finished the season 8–4, 6–2 in SoCon play to win a share of the SoCon championship. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs, where they lost to Jacksonville State in the first round.
Preseason
Preseason media poll
The SoCon released their preseason media poll on July 25, 2018, with the Buccaneers predicted to finish in eighth place.[2] The same day the coaches released their preseason poll with the Buccaneers also predicted to finish in eighth place.[3]
Media poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Samford
204 (20)
2
Furman
174 (2)
3
Wofford
163 (1)
4
Mercer
133
5
Western Carolina
114
6
Chattanooga
88
7
The Citadel
83
8
East Tennessee State
53
9
VMI
23
Coaches poll
Predicted finish
Team
Votes (1st place)
1
Samford
63 (7)
2
Wofford
53 (1)
3
Furman
52 (1)
4
Western Carolina
39
5
Chattanooga
34
6
Mercer
32
7
The Citadel
28
8
East Tennessee State
15
9
VMI
8
Preseason All-SoCon Teams
The Buccaneers placed five players on the preseason all-SoCon teams.