American college football season
The1988 Miami Hurricanes football team represented theUniversity of Miami during the1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Hurricanes' 63rd season of football. The Hurricanes were led by fifth-year head coachJimmy Johnson and played home games at theMiami Orange Bowl. They finished the season 11–1 overall. They were invited to theOrange Bowl, where they defeatedNebraska, 23–3.
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 3 | No. 1Florida State | No. 6 | | CBS | W 31–0 | 77,836 | [1] |
| September 17 | at No. 15Michigan | No. 1 | | ABC | W 31–30 | 105,834 | [2] |
| September 24 | Wisconsin | No. 1 | - Miami Orange Bowl
- Miami, FL
| | W 23–3 | 48,311 | [3] |
| October 1 | Missouri | No. 1 | - Miami Orange Bowl
- Miami, FL
| | W 55–0 | 40,654 | [4] |
| October 15 | at No. 4Notre Dame | No. 1 | | CBS | L 30–31 | 59,075 | [5] |
| October 22 | Cincinnati | No. 4 | - Miami Orange Bowl
- Miami, FL
| | W 57–3 | 44,107 | [6] |
| October 29 | atEast Carolina | No. 4 | | | W 31–7 | 29,400 | [7] |
| November 5 | Tulsa | No. 3 | - Miami Orange Bowl
- Miami, FL
| | W 34–3 | 38,196 | [8] |
| November 19 | at No. 11LSU | No. 3 | | ESPN | W 44–3 | 79,528 | [9] |
| November 26 | No. 8Arkansas | No. 3 | - Miami Orange Bowl
- Miami, FL
| CBS | W 18–16 | 63,271 | [10] |
| December 3 | BYU | No. 2 | - Miami Orange Bowl
- Miami, FL
| ESPN | W 41–17 | 59,367 | [11] |
| January 2 | vs. No. 6Nebraska | No. 2 | | NBC | W 23–3 | 79,480 | [12] |
Homecoming- Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game
|
Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes | Week |
|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
|---|
| AP | 8(1) | 6(1) | 1(38) | 1(46) | 1(46) | 1(55) | 1(53) | 1(52) | 4 | 4 | 3(1) | 3(1) | 3(1) | 3(1) | 2(1) | 2(1) | 2(11⁄2) |
|---|
| Coaches | 5(4) | 5(4) | 1(29) | 1(37) | 1(45) | 1(45) | 1(43) | 1(44) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3(1) | 3(1) | 2(2) | 2(3) | 2(2) |
|---|
#1 Florida State at #6 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Seminoles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| •Hurricanes | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | 11:46 | MIA | Carlos Huerta 46-yard field goal | MIA 3-0 |
|
| 2 | 14:27 | MIA | Cleveland Gary 2-yard run (Carlos Huerta kick) | MIA 10-0 |
|
| 2 | 0:11 | MIA | Rob Chudzinski 19-yard pass fromSteve Walsh (Carlos Huerta kick) | MIA 17-0 |
|
| 3 | 8:54 | MIA | Leonard Conley 5-yard pass from Steve Walsh (Carlos Huerta kick) | MIA 24-0 |
|
| 4 | 1:30 | MIA | Pee Wee Smith 17-yard pass fromCraig Erickson (Carlos Huerta kick) | MIA 31-0 |
[13][14]
#1 Miami (FL) at #15 Michigan
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| •Hurricanes | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 31 |
| Wolverines | 3 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | Michigan | Mike Gillette 22-yard field goal | Michigan 3-0 |
|
| 1 | | Miami (FL) | Cleveland Gary 49-yard pass fromSteve Walsh (Carlos Huerta kick) | Miami (FL) 7-3 |
|
| 2 | | Michigan | Mike Gillette 30-yard field goal | Miami (FL) 7-6 |
|
| 2 | | Miami (FL) | Cleveland Gary 1-yard run (Carlos Huerta kick) | Miami (FL) 14-6 |
|
| 2 | | Michigan | Jeffrey Brown 5-yard pass fromMichael Taylor (pass failed) | Miami (FL) 14-12 |
|
| 2 | | Michigan | John Kolesar 18-yard pass from Michael Taylor (Chris Horn run) | Michigan 20-14 |
|
| 3 | | Michigan | Mike Gillette 29-yard field goal | Michigan 23-14 |
|
| 4 | | Michigan | Chris Calloway 16-yard pass from Michael Taylor (Mike Gillette kick) | Michigan 30-14 |
|
| 4 | 5:23 | Miami (FL) | Rob Chudzinski 7-yard pass from Steve Walsh (Dale Dawkins pass from Steve Walsh) | Michigan 30-22 |
|
| 4 | 2:58 | Miami (FL) | Cleveland Gary 48-yard pass from Steve Walsh (pass failed) | Michigan 30-28 |
|
| 4 | 0:43 | Miami (FL) | Carlos Huerta 29-yard field goal | Miami (FL) 31-30 |
[15]
Wisconsin at #1 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Badgers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| •Hurricanes | 0 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 23 |
Scoring summary |
| Q1 | | WIS | Mehring 38-yard field goal | WIS 3–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | Clark 55-yard fumble return (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–3 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | Brown 26-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | MIA 14–3 |
|
| Q3 | | MIA | Huerta 21-yard field goal | MIA 17–3 |
|
| Q3 | | MIA | Huerta 34-yard field goal | MIA 20–3 |
|
| Q4 | | MIA | Huerta 30-yard field goal | MIA 23–3 |
[16]
Missouri at #1 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| •Hurricanes | 21 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 55 |
Scoring summary |
| Q1 | | MIA | Chudzinski 29-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–0 |
|
| Q1 | | MIA | Dawkins 9-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | MIA 14–0 |
|
| Q1 | | MIA | Hill 44-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | MIA 21–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | Huerta 34-yard field goal | MIA 24–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | Gary 4-yard run (Huerta kick) | MIA 31–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | A. Brown 45-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick) | MIA 38–0 |
|
| Q3 | | MIA | Dawkins 35-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | MIA 45–0 |
|
| Q3 | | MIA | A. Brown 17-yard pass from Erickson (Huerta kick) | MIA 52–0 |
|
| Q4 | | MIA | Huerta 47-yard field goal | MIA 55–0 |
The dominating win over Missouri was Miami's most lopsided victory in 21 years, dating back to a 58–0 win over Pittsburgh in 1967.[17]
#1 Miami (FL) at #4 Notre Dame
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Hurricanes | 0 | 21 | 0 | 9 | 30 |
| •Fighting Irish | 7 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | 3:36 | ND | Rice 7-yard run (Ho kick) | ND 7-0 |
|
| 2 | 12:40 | Miami (FL) | A. Brown 8-yard pass fromWalsh (Huerta kick) | Tied 7-7 |
|
| 2 | 7:34 | ND | B. Banks 8-yard pass from Rice (Ho kick) | ND 14-7 |
|
| 2 | | ND | P. Terrell 60-yard interception return (Ho kick) | ND 21-7 |
|
| 2 | 2:16 | Miami (FL) | Conley 23-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | ND 21-14 |
|
| 2 | 0:21 | Miami (FL) | C. Gary 15-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | Tied 21-21 |
|
| 3 | 8:09 | ND | P. Eilers 3-yard run (Ho kick) | ND 28-21 |
|
| 3 | 0:37 | ND | Ho 27-yard field goal | ND 31-21 |
|
| 4 | 13:07 | Miami (FL) | Huerta 23-yard field goal | ND 31-24 |
|
| 4 | 0:45 | Miami (FL) | A. Brown 11-yard pass from Walsh (pass failed) | ND 31-30 |
[18][19]
#3 Miami (FL) at #11 LSU
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| •Hurricanes | 10 | 10 | 0 | 24 | 44 |
| Tigers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
#8 Arkansas at #3 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Razorbacks | 10 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
| •Hurricanes | 10 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 18 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | 9:14 | Miami | Huerta 36-yard field goal | Miami 3-0 |
|
| 1 | 4:43 | Ark | Trainor 58-yard field goal | Tied 3-3 |
|
| 1 | 1:41 | Miami | Gary 1-yard run (Huerta kick) | Miami 10-3 |
|
| 1 | 1:29 | Ark | Foster 80-yard run (Trainor kick) | Tied 10-10 |
|
| 2 | 8:30 | Miami | Safety, Hawkins tackles Grovey in end zone | Miami 12-10 |
|
| 2 | 0:03 | Miami | Huerta 45-yard field goal | Miami 15-10 |
|
| 3 | 5:03 | Ark | Foster 16-yard pass from Grovey (conversion failed) | Arkansas 16-15 |
|
| 4 | 5:38 | Miami | Huerta 20-yard field goal | Miami 18-16 |
BYU at #2 Miami (FL)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Cougars | 3 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
| •Hurricanes | 7 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 41 |
Vs. Nebraska (Orange Bowl)
[edit]#2 Miami (FL) vs. #6 Nebraska
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| •Hurricanes | 7 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
| Cornhuskers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Scoring summary |
| Q1 | | MIA | Leonard Conley 22-yard pass from Steve Walsh (Huerta kick) | MIA 7–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | Huerta 18-yard field goal | MIA 10–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | Conley 42-yard pass from Walsh (Huerta kick) | MIA 17–0 |
|
| Q2 | | MIA | Huerta 37-yard field goal | MIA 20–0 |
|
| Q3 | | Neb | Gregg Barrios 50-yard field goal | MIA 20–3 |
|
| Q4 | | MIA | Huerta 37-yard field goal | MIA 23–3 |
[21]
| 1988 Miami Hurricanes football team roster |
|---|
| Players | Coaches |
|---|
| Offense | Defense | Special teams | - Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured Redshirt
|
- Steve Walsh, Sammy Baugh Trophy[22]
Jack Harding University of Miami MVP Award
[edit][24]
- ^"Miami blows away No. 1 Florda State".The Charlotte Observer. September 4, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Hurricanes wash away UM upset bid".The Flint Journal. September 18, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Badgers can't move on Miami defense".Herald-Times-Reporter. September 25, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Hurricanes drench punchless Tigers".Florida Today. October 2, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Irish good guys nab public enemy No. 1".The Courier-Journal. October 16, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Hurricanes overwhelm Bearcats".The Stuart News. October 23, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Hurricanes methodical in beating ECU 31–7".The Palm Beach Post. October 30, 1988. RetrievedMarch 5, 2021 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Miami defeats Tulsa, 34–3; Walsh ties TD mark".The Stuart News. November 6, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Hurricanes make a disaster of Bengals".The Commercial Appeal. November 20, 1988. RetrievedNovember 11, 2023 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Miami stops Arkansas".Daily Press. November 27, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Miami pounds BYU as Ellis scores TD".News-Press. December 4, 1988. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Miami's Johnson: 'We're best team right now'".St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 4, 1989. RetrievedMay 30, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Miami Wallops No.1 FSU 31-0." Gainesville Sun. Sept 4 1988.
- ^NoleFan.Org
- ^"Hurricanes blow past Wolverines." Eugene Register-Guard. 1988 Sept 18.
- ^"Miami's defense bails out offense." Gainesville Sun. 1988 Sept 25. Retrieved 2014-Dec-28.
- ^"COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Missouri Sees Why Miami Is No. 1, 55-0".Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1988. RetrievedDecember 29, 2018.
- ^"NOTRE DAME DEFEATS TOP-RANKED MIAMI, 31-30".The Washington Post. January 3, 1989. RetrievedDecember 29, 2018.
- ^"25 years of college football's memorable games".USA Today. December 1, 2007. RetrievedOctober 10, 2009.
- ^Gainesville Sun. 1988 Oct 23.
- ^"MIAMI'S DEFENSE DESTROYS NEBRASKA".Chicago Tribune. January 3, 1989. RetrievedDecember 29, 2018.
- ^"Awards".www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com. Archived fromthe original on July 17, 2011.
- ^"History: Jack Harding MVP Award". CBS Interactive. RetrievedJuly 23, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^"1989 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com".Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived fromthe original on December 21, 2007.
|
|---|
| Venues | |
|---|
| Bowls and rivalries | |
|---|
| Culture and lore | |
|---|
| Documentaries | |
|---|
| People | |
|---|
| Early years (1926 to 1978) | |
|---|
| Seasons | |
|---|
National championship seasons in bold |