Record: 48-57-11, .461 W-L% (9th of 10) (Schedule and Results)
SRS: 1.73 (5th of 10) ▪ SOS: 2.89 (3rd of 10)
Conference Champion: Michigan
Ranked in Preseason AP Poll: 3 (Iowa, Michigan and Michigan State)
Ranked in Final AP Poll: 2 (Indiana and Michigan)
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 1, 1988 | Sat | Illinois | 31 | @ | Ohio State | 12 | |
| 2 | Oct 1, 1988 | Sat | Indiana | 48 | @ | Northwestern | 17 | |
| 3 | Oct 1, 1988 | Sat | Iowa | 10 | Michigan State | 10 | ||
| 4 | Oct 1, 1988 | Sat | (19) Michigan | 62 | @ | Wisconsin | 14 | |
| 5 | Oct 1, 1988 | Sat | Purdue | 14 | Minnesota | 10 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 6 | Oct 8, 1988 | Sat | Illinois | 20 | Purdue | 0 | ||
| 7 | Oct 8, 1988 | Sat | Indiana | 41 | Ohio State | 7 | ||
| 8 | Oct 8, 1988 | Sat | Iowa | 31 | Wisconsin | 6 | ||
| 9 | Oct 8, 1988 | Sat | (17) Michigan | 17 | Michigan State | 3 | ||
| 10 | Oct 8, 1988 | Sat | Northwestern | 28 | Minnesota | 28 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 11 | Oct 15, 1988 | Sat | Illinois | 34 | @ | Wisconsin | 6 | |
| 12 | Oct 15, 1988 | Sat | (18) Indiana | 33 | Minnesota | 13 | ||
| 13 | Oct 15, 1988 | Sat | (15) Michigan | 17 | Iowa | 17 | ||
| 14 | Oct 15, 1988 | Sat | Michigan State | 36 | Northwestern | 3 | ||
| 15 | Oct 15, 1988 | Sat | Purdue | 31 | @ | Ohio State | 26 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 16 | Oct 22, 1988 | Sat | Iowa | 31 | @ | Purdue | 7 | |
| 17 | Oct 22, 1988 | Sat | (20) Michigan | 31 | (14) Indiana | 6 | ||
| 18 | Oct 22, 1988 | Sat | Michigan State | 28 | @ | Illinois | 21 | |
| 19 | Oct 22, 1988 | Sat | Northwestern | 35 | Wisconsin | 14 | ||
| 20 | Oct 22, 1988 | Sat | Ohio State | 13 | @ | Minnesota | 6 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 21 | Oct 29, 1988 | Sat | Illinois | 27 | Minnesota | 27 | ||
| 22 | Oct 29, 1988 | Sat | Indiana | 45 | Iowa | 34 | ||
| 23 | Oct 29, 1988 | Sat | (14) Michigan | 52 | @ | Northwestern | 7 | |
| 24 | Oct 29, 1988 | Sat | Michigan State | 20 | Ohio State | 10 | ||
| 25 | Oct 29, 1988 | Sat | Purdue | 9 | @ | Wisconsin | 6 | |
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 26 | Nov 5, 1988 | Sat | Illinois | 21 | (20) Indiana | 20 | ||
| 27 | Nov 5, 1988 | Sat | Iowa | 35 | Northwestern | 10 | ||
| 28 | Nov 5, 1988 | Sat | (14) Michigan | 22 | Minnesota | 7 | ||
| 29 | Nov 5, 1988 | Sat | Michigan State | 48 | @ | Purdue | 3 | |
| 30 | Nov 5, 1988 | Sat | Ohio State | 34 | Wisconsin | 12 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 31 | Nov 12, 1988 | Sat | (13) Michigan | 38 | Illinois | 9 | ||
| 32 | Nov 12, 1988 | Sat | Michigan State | 38 | @ | Indiana | 12 | |
| 33 | Nov 12, 1988 | Sat | Northwestern | 28 | Purdue | 7 | ||
| 34 | Nov 12, 1988 | Sat | Ohio State | 24 | Iowa | 24 | ||
| 35 | Nov 12, 1988 | Sat | Wisconsin | 14 | Minnesota | 7 | ||
| Rk | Date | Day | Winner/Tie | Pts | Loser/Tie | Pts | Notes | |
| 36 | Nov 19, 1988 | Sat | Illinois | 14 | Northwestern | 9 | ||
| 37 | Nov 19, 1988 | Sat | Indiana | 52 | @ | Purdue | 7 | |
| 38 | Nov 19, 1988 | Sat | Iowa | 31 | @ | Minnesota | 22 | |
| 39 | Nov 19, 1988 | Sat | (12) Michigan | 34 | @ | Ohio State | 31 | |
| 40 | Nov 19, 1988 | Sat | Michigan State | 36 | Wisconsin | 0 |