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]
Defense
Kenney Wooten – DL
Specialists
Gabriel Vicente – K
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance 6:00 p.m. Southern Illinois * ESPN+ L 10–496,350
September 8 6:00 p.m. at No. 17 Central Arkansas * ESPN+ L 13–266,121
September 15 11:00 a.m. at Kentucky * SECN L 10–4848,217
September 29 6:00 p.m. UT Martin Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY ESPN+ W 45–3811,137
October 6 6:00 p.m. at Eastern Illinois ESPN+ W 48–413,063
October 13 1:00 p.m. Tennessee State Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY ESPN+ W 45–213,318
October 20 2:00 p.m. at Eastern Kentucky ESPN+ W 34–610,440
October 27 3:00 p.m. No. 12 Jacksonville State Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY ESPN+ L 15–428,053
November 3 1:30 p.m. at Tennessee Tech ESPN+ L 24–278,788
November 10 1:00 p.m. No. 21 Southeast Missouri State Roy Stewart Stadium Murray, KY ESPN+ W 40–382,087
November 17 4:00 p.m. at Austin Peay ESPN+ L 23–487,113
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time
1
2
3
4
Total
Salukis
7
21
14
7
49
Racers
3
7
0
0
10
1
2
3
4
Total
Racers
3
10
0
0
13
No. 17 Bears
7
13
0
6
26
1
2
3
4
Total
Racers
0
3
0
7
10
Wildcats
7
10
17
14
48
1
2
3
4
Total
Skyhawks
3
7
14
14
38
Racers
14
17
7
7
45
1
2
3
4
Total
Racers
10
14
14
10
48
Panthers
7
10
17
7
41
1
2
3
4
Total
Tigers
14
0
0
7
21
Racers
3
21
14
7
45
1
2
3
4
Total
Racers
0
10
14
10
34
Colonels
3
0
3
0
6
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 12 Gamecocks
14
7
7
14
42
Racers
6
3
6
0
15
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
1
2
3
4
Total
Racers
10
7
0
6
23
Governors
14
7
7
20
48
Players drafted into the NFL
edit