Led by first-year head coach Denver Johnson, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the Gateway.
24 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of NCAA Division I-AA teams.
[2] The team played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.
In their opening game against West Virginia Tech an NCAA Division II team, the Redbirds scored 75 points, the most the team had scored in a game since 1937.
This college football 2000s season article is a stub.