| Year: | 1988 |
| Team: | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 6–4–3 |
| Conf Record: | 4–1–3 |
| Hc Year: | 10th |
| Oc Year: | 10th |
| Def Coach: | Bill Brashier |
| Dc Year: | 10th |
| Captain: | Marv Cook Dave Haight Chuck Hartlieb Bob Kratch Jim Reilly |
| Stadium: | Kinnick Stadium (Capacity: 67,700) |
| Bowl Result: | L 23–28 vs. NC State |
The 1988 Iowa Hawkeyes football team represented the University of Iowa in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Hawkeyes played their home games at Kinnick Stadium and were led by legendary coach Hayden Fry. The 1988 season marked the 100th season of Iowa Hawkeyes football.
See also: 1988 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team.
After surrendering a 23-yard field goal by freshman Jason Elam with 1:36 left in the game, Iowa quickly drove to the Hawaii 20-yard line with 48 seconds remaining. A false start penalty pushed the Hawkeyes back five yards, then a devastating holding penalty wiped out a potential go-ahead touchdown from Chuck Hartlieb to Travis Watkins with 40 seconds left. After converting from the same distance midway through the 4th quarter, freshman kicker Jeff Skillett left a 44-yard field goal attempt short that would have tied the game with 17 seconds on the clock.[2]
See also: 1988 Kansas State Wildcats football team.
The Hawkeyes' 35-point victory extended the Wildcats' winless streak to 18 consecutive games. Iowa Offensive coordinator Bill Snyder was hired as Head coach at Kansas State following the regular season.[3]
See also: 1988 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
Colorado coach Bill McCartney indicated this win over the Hawkeyes was a major win for the Colorado football program. The Buffaloes finished the 1988 season with an 8-4 record before consecutive 11-win seasons in 1989 and 1990, the latter capped by an AP National Championship.[4]
See also: 1988 Iowa State Cyclones football team and Cy-Hawk Trophy.
The win over the Cyclones was the Hawkeyes sixth consecutive over their in-state rivals.[5]
See also: 1988 Michigan State Spartans football team.
See also: 1988 Wisconsin Badgers football team.
See also: 1988 Michigan Wolverines football team.
A 17-17 tie at Kinnick Stadium was the lone blemish on an otherwise perfect Big Ten season for the Wolverines. After opening the season with consecutive losses, 19-17 at eventual National Champion Notre Dame and 31-30 at home to the team that finished #2 in the final polls, Miami (a game Michigan led 30-14 in the 4th quarter), Michigan went 9-0-1 the rest of the season including a Rose Bowl victory to finish with a #4 ranking.
See also: 1988 Purdue Boilermakers football team.
See also: 1988 Indiana Hoosiers football team.
Though Iowa finished only 4th in the final Big Ten standings, this was their lone conference loss. Chuck Hartlieb set the Iowa single game passing record with 558 yards through the air. Wide receiver Deven Harberts had 11 receptions for 233 yards and a touchdown.[10]
See also: 1988 Northwestern Wildcats football team.
See also: 1988 Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
See also: 1988 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.
See main article: 1988 Peach Bowl (December).
See also: 1988 NC State Wolfpack football team.
In a game played through a steady rain, the teams combined for 14 turnovers (7 each) and 12 fumbles (8 lost). NC State opened up a 28-3 second quarter lead by converting three Hawkeye fumbles into touchdowns. Iowa fought until the end behind Chuck Hartlieb's 428 passing yards.
See also: 1988 College Football All-America Team and 1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
See main article: 1989 NFL draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Tight end | 3 | 63 | New England Patriots | |
| Guard | 3 | 64 | New York Giants | |
| Linebacker | 3 | 70 | New York Jets | |
| Quarterback | 12 | 325 | Houston Oilers | |