1988 NAIA Division I football season

1988 NAIA Division I football season
Regular season	August–November 1988
Postseason	November 26–December 17, 1988
National Championship	Burke–Tarr Stadium Jefferson City, TN
Champions	Carson–Newman (4)

The 1988 NAIA Division I football season, as part of the 1988 college football season in the United States and the 33rd season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 19th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.

The season was played from August to November 1988 and culminated in the 1988 NAIA Champion Bowl playoffs and the 1988 NAIA Champion Bowl, played this year on December 17, 1988 at Burke–Tarr Stadium in Jefferson City, Tennessee, on the campus of Carson–Newman College.

Carson–Newman defeated Adams State in the Champion Bowl, 56–21, to win their fourth NAIA national title. It was the Eagles' third straight appearance in the Champion Bowl, going 1–1 in the previous two.

Conference standings

1988 Central States Intercollegiate Conference football standings Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T No. 2 Pittsburg State $^ 7 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0 No. 11 Emporia State ^ 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 3 – 0 No. 14 Washburn ^ 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0 No. 24 Kearney State 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0 Fort Hays State 3 – 4 – 0 3 – 6 – 1 Missouri Western 2 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0 Missouri Southern 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 0 Wayne State (NE) 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 11 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

1988 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T No. 5 Hillsdale $^ 5 – 0 – 0 10 – 2 – 0 No. 19 Northern Michigan 4 – 1 – 0 8 – 3 – 0 Grand Valley State 3 – 2 – 0 0 – 7 – 4 No. 25 Saginaw Valley State 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0 Ferris State 1 – 4 – 0 4 – 7 – 0 Wayne State (MI) 0 – 5 – 0 2 – 8 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll for Northern Michigan and NAIA Division I poll for Hillsdale and Saginaw Valley State

1988 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football standings Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T No. 3 Mesa State $^ 5 – 0 – 0 8 – 2 – 0 No. 16 Adams State ^ 3 – 1 – 1 10 – 3 – 1 No. 23 Western New Mexico 2 – 2 – 1 4 – 4 – 1 Western State (CO) 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 5 – 0 Colorado Mines 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 7 – 0 Fort Lewis 0 – 5 – 0 1 – 8 – 0 $ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA Division I playoff participant Rankings from NAIA Division I poll

Conference champions

Conference	Champion	Record
Arkansas Intercollegiate	Central Arkansas	6–0
NIC	Moorhead State (MN)	6–0
Oklahoma	Southeastern Oklahoma State	4–0
RMAC	Mesa State	5–0
South Atlantic	Carson–Newman Catawba	5–2
WVIAC	Fairmont State	5–0–2

Postseason

	First Round November 26, 1988 Campus sites					Quarterfinals December 3, 1988 Campus sites					Semifinals December 10, 1988 Campus sites					1988 Champion Bowl December 17, 1988 Jefferson City, TN
		Washburn	13
		Arkansas–Monticello*	20
							Arkansas–Monticello	7
							Pittsburg State*	23
		Northern State (SD)	14
		Pittsburg State*	38
												Pittsburg State	10
												Adams State*	13
		Adams State	14
		Emporia State*	10
							Adams State	38
							SE Oklahoma State*	7
		Central Arkansas	14
		SE Oklahoma State* (OT)	21
																	Adams State	21
																	Carson–Newman*	56
		Mesa State	16
		Moorhead State*	26
							Moorhead State	6
							Carson–Newman*	42
		Concord	29
		Carson–Newman*	62
												Carson–Newman	13
												Central State (OH)*	0
		Catawba	10
		Central State (OH)*	24
							Central State (OH)	14
							Hillsdale*	7
		Fairmont State	7
		Hillsdale*	24

See also

• 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season
• 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season
• 1988 NCAA Division II football season
• 1988 NCAA Division III football season