The 1988 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University Bloomington as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Bill Mallory, the Hoosiers compiled an overall record of 8–3–1 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing fifth in the Big Ten. Indiana was invited to the Liberty Bowl, where they beat South Carolina. The team played home games at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.

The 1988 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach John Mackovic, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–5–1 record (5–2–1 in conference games), tied for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 235 to 229. They concluded the season with a loss to Florida and freshman running back Emmit Smith in the 1988 All-American Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jeff George (2,257 passing yards, 57.9% completion percentage), running back Keith Jones (1,108 rushing yards, 60 points scored), and Steve Williams (38 receptions for 523 receiving yards). Three Illinois players won first-team honors on the 1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team: defensive lineman Moe Gardner (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Glenn Cobb (AP-1, UPI-1); and linebacker Darrick Brownlow (AP-1).