2006 Illinois State Redbirds football team

2006 Illinois State Redbirds football
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 8
Record9–4 (5–2 Gateway)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJustin Fuente (3rd season)
MVPs
CaptainGame captains
Home stadiumHancock Stadium
2006 Gateway Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 4 Youngstown State $^   6 1     11 3  
No. 8 Illinois State ^   5 2     9 4  
No. 17 Northern Iowa   5 2     7 4  
No. 7 Southern Illinois ^   4 3     9 4  
Western Kentucky   4 3     6 5  
Western Illinois   2 5     5 6  
Missouri State   1 6     2 9  
Indiana State   1 6     1 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2006 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Denver Johnson, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 9–4 with a mark of 5–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the Gateway. Illinois State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, defeating Eastern Illinois in the first round before losing to Youngstown State in the quarterfinals. The team was ranked No 8 in The Sports Network's postseason NCAA Division I FCS rankings. Illinois State played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.