1988 UCLA Bruins football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1988 UCLA Bruins football Pacific-10 Conference Pac-10 6 6 10–2 6–2 Terry Donahue 13th Steve Axman 2nd Bob Field 7th Tom Hayes 7th Rose Bowl Cotton Bowl Classic champion Cotton Bowl Classic W 17–3 vs. Arkansas The 1988 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a member of the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Terry Donahue, the Bruins compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing second in the Pac-10. UCLA was invited to the Cotton Bowl Classic, where the Bruins defeated Arkansas. The team played home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Senior quarterback Troy Aikman was taken first overall in the 1989 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Schedule 1988 AP September 3 w y 5 San Diego State Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA 59–6 46,487 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8439231/problems_galore_as_aztecs_suffer_59_6/ Problems galore as Aztecs suffer 59–6 loss to UCLA The Los Angeles Times San Diego County Curt Holbreich September 4, 1988 III-1 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com September 10 w y 5 Nebraska 2 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA 41–28 84,086 https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-ucla-overpowers-n/173533389/ Honolulu Star-Bulletin & Advertiser UCLA overpowers Nebraska September 11, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com September 17 w y 2 Long Beach State Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA 56–3 42,464 https://www.newspapers.com/article/simi-valley-star-bruins-act-like-no-1/173533534/ The Enterprise Bruins act like No. 1 September 18, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com October 1 w y 2 Washington 16 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA 24–17 71,224 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-aikmans-heroics-ad/173533637/ Tallahassee Democrat Aikman's heroics add up to 24–17 UCLA win October 2, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com October 8 w 2 Oregon State Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA 38–21 46,550 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-osu-beaten-but-not-without/173533770/ The Columbian OSU beaten but not without a fight October 9, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com October 15 w y 2 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA rivalry 38–21 58,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-ucla-could-b/173533889/ The Peninsula Times Tribune UCLA could be voted No. 1 after 38–21 win over Cal October 16, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com October 22 w y 1 Arizona Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 24–3 49,922 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-top-ranked-ucla-rips-ar/173533982/ The Boston Globe Top-ranked UCLA rips Arizona, 24–3 October 23, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com October 29 l 1 Washington State Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA 30–34 51,970 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-washington-state/173534142/ Wisconsin State Journal Washington State stuns No. 1 UCLA October 30, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com November 5 w y 6 Oregon Autzen Stadium Eugene, OR 16–6 42,509 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-bruins-outlast-oregon/173534258/ The State Bruins outlast Oregon November 6, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com November 12 w y 6 Stanford Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA rivalry 27–17 70,552 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salisbury-post-ucla-tops-stanford/173534391/ The Salisbury Post UCLA tops Stanford November 13, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com November 19 l 6 USC 2 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Victory Bell 22–31 100,741 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-peete-usc-top/173532704/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Peete, USC top UCLA; Irish next for Trojans November 20, 1988 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com January 2 w y y 9 Arkansas 8 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl Classic 17–3 74,304 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-aikman-ucla-d/173525729/ Austin American-Statesman Aikman, UCLA defense sew up Cotton Bowl January 3, 1989 May 31, 2025 Newspapers.com https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1988-schedule.html 1988 UCLA Bruins Schedule and Results Sports Reference September 20, 2014 Rankings 1988 NCAA Division I-A football rankings1988 College Football Standings and Rankings https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1988-standings.html 2025-12-11 College Football at Sports-Reference.com en1988 UCLA Bruins Stats https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ucla/1988.html 2025-12-11 College Football at Sports-Reference.com en AP 0 16 5 (2) 5 (2) 5 (2) 2 (3) 2 (3) 2 (3) 2 (3) 2 (1) 1 (33) 1 (35) 6 6 6 9 8 9 6 Coaches 0 16 9 (2) 9 (2) 5 2 (13) 2 (5) 2 (7) 2 (6) 2 (5) 1 (37) 1 (41) 6 6 6 9 9 9 6 Game summaries Nebraska #2 Nebraska 0 13 7 8 #5 UCLA 28 10 3 0 September 10 Rose Bowl 84,086 Jim Springer Keith Jackson, Bob Griese, and Mike Adamle ABC yes Q1 12:39 UCLA Arbuckle 57-yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 7–0 Q1 8:22 UCLA Wills 50-yard run (Velasco kick) UCLA 14–0 Q1 5:05 UCLA Arbuckle 3-yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 21–0 Q1 1:00 UCLA Henly 75-yard punt return (Velasco kick) UCLA 28–0 Q2 Neb Mark Blazek 75-yard interception return (kick) UCLA 28–7 Q2 UCLA Keating 11-yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 35–7 Q2 UCLA Velasco 42-yard field goal UCLA 38–7 Q2 1:21 Neb Gregory 8-yard pass from S. Taylor (PAT failed) UCLA 38–13 Q3 UCLA Velasco 34-yard field goal UCLA 41–13 Q3 Neb S. Taylor 1-yard run (kick) UCLA 41–20 Q4 Neb Millikan 1-yard pass from S. Taylor (S. Taylor run) UCLA 41–28 yes 1988 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team September 11, 1988 November 21, 2015 Aikman Passes UCLA Past Nebraska 41-28 http://newsok.com/article/2238750 NewsOK Oregon State Oregon St 0 14 0 7 #2 UCLA 14 7 3 14 October 8 Rose Bowl 46,550 yes Q1 UCLA Anthony 7 yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 7–0 Q1 UCLA Keating 21 yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 14–0 Q2 UCLA Ball 12 yard run (Velasco kick) UCLA 21–0 Q2 ORST Chaffney 69 yard pass from Wilhelm (Bussonich kick) UCLA 21–7 Q2 ORST Thomas 52 yard pass from Wilhelm (Bussonich kick) UCLA 21–14 Q3 UCLA Velasco 37 yard field goal UCLA 24–14 Q4 UCLA R. Moore 6 yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 31–14 Q4 ORST Thomas 12 yard pass from Wilhelm (Bussonich kick) UCLA 31–21 Q4 UCLA Anthony 1 yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 38–21 yes 1988 Oregon State Beavers football team Eugene Register-Guard. 1988 Nov 9. Retrieved 2015-Oct-10. At Oregon #6 UCLA 3 0 7 6 Oregon 0 3 0 3 November 5 Autzen Stadium 42,509 yes Q1 3:45 UCLA Velasco 53 yard field goal UCLA 3–0 Q2 0:09 ORE Dennis 23 yard field goal Tie 3–3 Q3 3:41 UCLA Keating 11 yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick) UCLA 10–3 Q4 14:15 ORE Dennis 43 yard field goal UCLA 10–6 Q4 13:22 UCLA Brown 68 yard run (pass failed) UCLA 16–6 yes 1988 Oregon Ducks football team Eugene Register-Guard. 1988 Nov 6. Retrieved 2015-Oct-02. USC 1988 USC Trojans football team Victory Bell (UCLA–USC) Vs. Arkansas (Cotton Bowl) 1988 Arkansas Razorbacks football team 1989 Cotton Bowl Classic January 3, 1989 September 1, 2019 UCLA Hogs Cotton Bowl Spotlight by Shutting Down Arkansas, 17-3 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-03-sp-155-story.html Los Angeles Times January 2, 1989 September 1, 2019 The UCLA Bruins won a record seventh straight bowl game https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/01/02/The-UCLA-Bruins-won-a-record-seventh-straight-bowl/1096599720400/ UPI Roster 1988 UCLA Bruins f 8 Sr Troy Aikman QB y 81 Jr Charles Arbuckle TE y 21 Sr Eric Ball RB y Eric Ball (American football) 68 Jr Frank Cornish C y 22 Sr Mel Farr Jr. RB y 9 Jr Mike Farr WR y 4 So Reggie Moore WR 7   Chance Johnson LB 2 Sr Darryl Henley CB y 31 Sr Carnell Lake DB y 54 Jr Craig Davis LB 23 Sr Marcus Turner DB y Marcus Turner (American football) 25 Jr Alfredo Velasco K *Terry Donahue 2015-12-20 Awards and honors Troy Aikman, Davey O'Brien Award NFL draftees The following players were selected in the 1989 NFL draft. 2 UCLA Bruins Player Position Round Pick NFL club Troy Aikman Quarterback 1 1 Dallas Cowboys Carnell Lake Defensive back 2 34 Pittsburgh Steelers Eric Ball Running back 2 35 Cincinnati Bengals Darryl Henley Defensive back 2 53 Los Angeles Rams Jim Wahler Defensive tackle 4 94 Phoenix Cardinals Marcus Turner Defensive back 11 283 Kansas City Chiefs Eric Smith Tackle 12 326 New York Giants Pro Football Reference 1989 NFL Draft https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989/draft.htm November 23, 2019 References UCLA Category:UCLA Bruins football seasons Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons UCLA Bruins football Category:Long stubs with short prose