the 2017 western illinois leathernecks football team represented western illinois university in the 2017 ncaa division i fcs football season. they were led by second-year head coach charlie fisher and played their home games at hanson field. they were a member of the missouri valley football conference (mvfc). they finished the season 8–4, 5–3 in mvfc play to finish in fourth place. they received an at-large bid to the fcs playoffs where they lost to weber state in the first round.