| Year: | 1988 |
| Team: | Oklahoma State Cowboys |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Eight Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big 8 |
| Coachrank: | 11 |
| Aprank: | 11 |
| Record: | 10–2 |
| Conf Record: | 5–2 |
| Head Coach: | Pat Jones |
| Hc Year: | 5th |
| Off Coach: | Larry Coker |
| Oc Year: | 6th |
| Champion: | Holiday Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Holiday Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 62–14 vs. Wyoming |
The 1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented the Oklahoma State University in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Future OSU head coach Mike Gundy was the starting QB for the Cowboys, while senior WR Hart Lee Dykes and junior RB Barry Sanders were both named first team All-American. Sanders won the Heisman Trophy as the nation's most outstanding player for the season. Sanders was also the Offensive MVP of the 1988 Holiday Bowl, and Junior LB Sim Drain III was the Defensive MVP.
The Cowboys finished the regular season with a 9–2 record.[1] In 1988, in what has been called the greatest season in college football history,[2] running back Barry Sanders led the nation by averaging 7.6 yards per carry and over 200 yards per game, including rushing for over 300 yards in four games. He set college football season records with 2,628 yards rushing, 3,249 total yards, 234 points, 39 touchdowns, of which 37 were rushing (also a record), five consecutive 200 yard games, scored at least two touchdowns in 11 consecutive games, and nine times he scored at least three touchdowns. Sanders also ran for 222 yards and scored five touchdowns in his three quarters of action in the Holiday Bowl, a game that was not included with his season statistics.[3]
See also: 1988 Miami RedHawks football team.
See also: 1988 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team and Oklahoma State–Tulsa football rivalry.
See also: 1988 Colorado Buffaloes football team.
See also: 1988 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.
See also: 1988 Missouri Tigers football team.
See also: 1988 Kansas State Wildcats football team.
See also: Bedlam Series.
Oklahoma State's Brent Parker dropped a potential game-winning touchdown pass in the end zone with 43 seconds left.[5]
See also: 1988 Kansas Jayhawks football team.
See also: 1988 Iowa State Cyclones football team.
See also: 1988 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team and Coca-Cola Classic (college football).
See also: 1988 Wyoming Cowboys football team and 1988 Holiday Bowl.
The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise | |
| Running back | 1 | 3 | Detroit Lions | ||
| Wide receiver | 1 | 16 | New England Patriots |
See also: 1988 College Football All-America Team and 1988 All-Big Eight Conference football team.