The 2012 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fourth year head coach Brock Spack and played their home games at Hancock Stadium. They were a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference. They finished the season 9–4, 5–3 in MVFC play to finish in a three way tie for third place. They received an at-large bid into the FCS Playoffs where they defeated Appalachian State in the second round before falling to Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals.