The 1940 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal UniversityâÂÂnow known as Illinois State UniversityâÂÂas a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1940 college football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Howard Hancock, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 5âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 with a mark of 4âÂÂ0 in conference play, winning the IIAC title.
Illinois State Normal was ranked at No. 266 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.
Illinois State Normal played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.