# 1988 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

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.

## Schedule

The Cowboys finished the regular season with a 9–2 record. In 1988, in what has been called the greatest season by an individual player in college football history, 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.
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 10 | Miami (OH)* | | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK | | W 52–20 | 43,200 |
| September 24 | Texas A&M* | No. 18 | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK | | W 52–15 | 50,440 |
| October 1 | Tulsa* | No. 13 | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK \ (rivalry) | | W 56–35 | 45,100 |
| October 8 | at Colorado | No. 13 | Folsom FieldBoulder, CO | | W 41–21 | 41,854 |
| October 15 | at No. 7 Nebraska | No. 10 | Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE | CSN | L 42–63 | 76,432 |
| October 22 | Missouri | No. 15 | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK | | W 49–21 | 46,900 |
| October 29 | at Kansas State | No. 12 | KSU StadiumManhattan, KS | | W 45–27 | 16,000 |
| November 5 | No. 8 Oklahoma | No. 12 | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK (Bedlam) | ESPN | L 28–31 | 50,440 |
| November 12 | Kansas | No. 14 | Lewis FieldStillwater, OK | | W 63–24 | 40,100 |
| November 19 | at Iowa State | No. 13 | Cyclone StadiumAmes, IA | | W 49–28 | 38,163 |
| December 4 | vs. Texas Tech* | No. 12 | Tokyo DomeTokyo, Japan (Coca-Cola Classic) | CBS | W 45–42 | 56,000 |
| December 30 | vs. No. 15 Wyoming* | No. 12 | Jack Murphy StadiumSan Diego, CA (Holiday Bowl) | ESPN | W 62–14 | 60,641 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | — | — | — | 20 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Coaches | — | — | — | — | 20 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |

## Game summaries
### At Nebraska

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #10 Cowboys | 0 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| #7 Cornhuskers | 35 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 63 |
at Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
* Date: October 15
* Game attendance: 76,432
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Leading Passers
OKST – Mike Gundy -  
NEB –  
Leading Rushers
OKST – Barry Sanders - 35 carries, 189 yards, 4 TD
NEB – Ken Clark - 27 carries, 256 yards, 3 TD
Leading Receivers
OKST –  
NEB – :

### At Kansas State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #12 Cowboys | 21 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| Wildcats | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
at KSU Stadium, Manhattan, KS
* Date: October 29
* Game attendance: 16,000
Game information :
First quarter
KSU – Washington 13-yard pass from Carl Straw (Porter kick). Wildcats 7–0.
OKST – Parker 63-yard pass from Mike Gundy (Blanchard kick). Tied 7–7.
KSU – Friedrich fumble recover in end zone (Porter kick). Wildcats 14–7.
OKST – Barry Sanders 26-yard run (Blanchard kick). Tied 14–14.
OKST – Barry Sanders 38-yard run (Blanchard kick). Cowboys 21–14.
Second quarter
OKST – Cary Blanchard 35-yard field goal. Cowboys 24–14.
KSU – Mark Porter 32-yard field goal. Cowboys 24–17.
Third quarter
OKST – Hart Lee Dykes 28-yard pass from Mike Gundy (Blanchard kick). Cowboys 31–17.
KSU – Mark Porter 37-yard field goal. Cowboys 31–20.
OKST – Vance Vice 1-yard pass from Mike Gundy (Blanchard kick). Cowboys 38–20.
Fourth quarter
KSU – Lee Pickett 1-yard run (Porter kick). Cowboys 38–27.
OKST – Barry Sanders 17-yard run (Blanchard kick), 6:38. Cowboys 45–27.
Leading Passers
KSU –  
OKST – Mike Gundy - 15/19, 228 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Leading Rushers
KSU –  
OKST – Barry Sanders - 37 carries, 320 yards, 3 TD
Leading Receivers
KSU –  
OKST – Hart Lee Dykes - 9 receptions, 127 yards, TD :

### Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oklahoma | 21 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
| Oklahoma St | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma
* Date: November 5, 1988
* Game weather: Partly cloudy, 58 °F (14 °C)
* Game attendance: 50,440
* TV announcers (ESPN): Roger Twibell and Lee Corso
Oklahoma State's Brent Parker dropped a potential game-winning touchdown pass in the end zone with 43 seconds left.
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Oklahoma | Passing | Charles Thompson | 2/5, 24 Yds |
| Oklahoma | Rushing | Mike Gaddis | 18 Rush, 213 Yds, 2 TD |
| Oklahoma | Receiving | Leon Perry | 1 Rec, 17 Yds |
| Oklahoma St | Passing | Mike Gundy | 18/28, 228 Yds, TD, 3 INT |
| Oklahoma St | Rushing | Barry Sanders | 39 Rush, 215 Yds, 2 TD |
| Oklahoma St | Receiving | Hart Lee Dykes | 9 Rec, 122 Yds, TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | OU | OSU |
| 1 | | | | | Oklahoma | Mike Gaddis 13-yard touchdown run, R.D. Lashar kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | | 1 | 44 | 0:07 | Oklahoma | Mike Gaddis 44-yard touchdown run, R.D. Lashar kick good | 14 | 0 |
| 1 | 6:52 | | | | Oklahoma St | Mike Gundy 4-yard touchdown run, Cary Blanchard kick good | 14 | 7 |
| 1 | | 11 | 80 | 4:17 | Oklahoma | Leon Perry 7-yard touchdown run, R.D. Lashar kick good | 21 | 7 |
| 2 | | 8 | 89 | 3:48 | Oklahoma St | Hart Lee Dykes 2-yard touchdown reception from Mike Gundy, Cary Blanchard kick good | 21 | 14 |
| 2 | 2:08 | | | | Oklahoma | 27-yard field goal by R.D. Lashar | 24 | 14 |
| 4 | 13:37 | | | | Oklahoma St | Barry Sanders 1-yard touchdown run, Cary Blanchard kick good | 24 | 21 |
| 4 | 8:45 | 8 | 72 | 3:12 | Oklahoma St | Barry Sanders 1-yard touchdown run, Cary Blanchard kick good | 24 | 28 |
| 4 | 2:33 | 13 | 80 | 6:12 | Oklahoma | Charles Thompson 18-yard touchdown run, R.D. Lashar kick good | 31 | 28 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 31 | 28 |

### Vs. Wyoming

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #12 Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 28 | 17 | 62 |
| #15 Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, CA
* Date: December 30
* Game attendance: 60,641
* TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Carpenter, Kevin Kiley, Sharlene Hawkes
Game information :
First quarter
OKST – Barry Sanders 33-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 7–0.
WYO – Randy Welniak 4-yard run (kick). Tied 7–7.
Second quarter
OKST – Barry Sanders 2-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 14–7.
OKST – Cary Blanchard 33-yard field goal. OKST Cowboys 17–7.
Third quarter
OKST – Mike Gundy 12-yard pass to Brent Parker (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 24–7.
WYO – Randy Welniak 4-yard run (kick). OKST Cowboys 24–14.
OKST – Barry Sanders 67-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 31–14.
OKST – Barry Sanders 1-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 38–14.
OKST – Barry Sanders 10-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 45–14.
Fourth quarter
OKST – Cary Blanchard 19-yard field goal. OKST Cowboys 48–14.
OKST – Mike Gundy 25-yard pass to Hart Lee Dykes (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 55–14.
OKST – Chris Smith 5-yard run (Blanchard kick). OKST Cowboys 62–14.
Leading Passers
OKST – Mike Gundy - 20/24, 315 yards, 2 TD
WYO – Randy Welniak -  
Leading Rushers
OKST – Barry Sanders - 29 carries, 222 yards, 5 TD
WYO –  
Leading Receivers
OKST – Hart Lee Dykes - 10 receptions, 163 yards, TD
WYO – :

## 1989 NFL Draft

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Barry Sanders | Running back | 1 | 3 | Detroit Lions |
| Hart Lee Dykes | Wide receiver | 1 | 16 | New England Patriots |

## Awards and honors

* Barry Sanders, Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, Sporting News College Football Player of the Year, Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year, Unanimous First-team All-American
* Hart Lee Dykes, Consensus First-team All-American