Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 3 at Northwestern State * L 8–24[1]
September 10 Missouri Southern * W 56–12[2]
September 17 No. 12 Western Illinois Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO L 31–357,655 [3]
September 24 7:00 p.m. at Northern Iowa W 28–910,734 [4]
October 1 1:00 p.m. at Northern Illinois * L 3–1714,127 [5]
October 8 at Indiana State L 24–27[6]
October 15 at No. 8 Western Kentucky * Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO L 14–218,059 [7]
October 29 Eastern Illinois Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO W 41–21[8]
November 5 Southern Illinois Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO W 28–243,030 [9]
November 12 at Illinois State W 21–109,125 [10]
[11]
^ "SMS finds there's no southern hospitality in football" . The Springfield News-Leader . September 4, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "SMS mauls Mo. Southern in 56–12 win" . The Springfield News-Leader . September 11, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Western Illinois rally stops Southwest Missouri" . The Kansas City Star . September 18, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "SW Missouri State tops Northern Iowa" . Omaha World-Herald . September 25, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Northern's goal-line stand turns off SW Missouri" . Chicago Tribune . October 2, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Indiana State rallies to head off SMS 27–24" . The Springfield News-Leader . October 9, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Bacon sizzles in Western's 21–14 win" . The Courier-Journal . October 16, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "SMS holds tight, beats EIU 41–21" . The Springfield News-Leader . October 30, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Bears use a hot passing attack to beat Salukis" . Southern Illinoisan . November 6, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "ISU ends frustrating season with 21–10 loss" . The Pantagraph . November 13, 1988. Retrieved July 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Missouri State Football 2023 Media Guide" (PDF) . Missouri State University Athletics. p. 65. Retrieved July 2, 2024 .