The 1998 Eastern Illinois Panthers represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 12th-year head coach Bob Spoo, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 6âÂÂ5 and a mark of 4âÂÂ3 in conference play, placing fourth in the OVC. The team played home game O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois.