- Season Record: 4-6-1
- Conference Record: 2-5-1
- Home Record: 3-3
- Road Record: 1-3-1
- Head Coach: John Cooper
John Cooper’s first season with Ohio State was a rocky one that resulted in a tie for seventh place in the Big Ten and no bowl appearance. OSU scored a combined 229 points (20.8 ppg) and allowed 283 (25.7 ppg). Ohio State did not win consecutive games all year. The highlight of 1988 was a wild home win against seventh-ranked LSU in Week 3. Unable to capitalize on that win, OSU went on to lose their next three games to open the Big Ten season.
1988 Ohio State Football Schedule & Results
| Date | Game | Time/Results | Stadium | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse @ Ohio State | 9 - 26 | Ohio Stadium | 89,768 | |
| Ohio State @ Pittsburgh | 42 - 10 | Pitt Stadium | 56,500 | |
| LSU @ Ohio State | 33 - 36 | Ohio Stadium | 90,584 | |
| Illinois @ Ohio State | 31 - 12 | Ohio Stadium | 90,274 | |
| Ohio State @ Indiana | 7 - 41 | Memorial Stadium | 52,133 | |
| Purdue @ Ohio State | 31 - 26 | Ohio Stadium | 90,970 | |
| Ohio State @ Minnesota | 13 - 6 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 44,221 | |
| Ohio State @ Michigan State | 10 - 20 | Ohio Stadium | 77,111 | |
| Wisconsin @ Ohio State | 12 - 34 | Ohio Stadium | 90,032 | |
| Ohio State @ Iowa | 24 - 24 | Kinnick Stadium | 67,700 | |
| Michigan @ Ohio State | 34 - 31 | Ohio Stadium | 90,176 |