The 2017 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season.

Led by fourth-year head coach Kim Dameron, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 6–5 overall with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing third in the OVC.

Eastern Illinois played home games at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois.