| Year: | 1988 |
| Team: | Houston Cougars |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southwest Conference |
| Short Conf: | SWC |
| Aprank: | 18 |
| Record: | 9–3 |
| Conf Record: | 5–2 |
| Head Coach: | Jack Pardee |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Coach: | John Jenkins |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Jim Eddy |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Houston Astrodome |
| Bowl: | Aloha Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 22–24 vs. Washington State |
The 1988 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Cougars were led by second-year head coach Jack Pardee and played their home games at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The team competed as members of the Southwest Conference, finishing in third. Just two seasons after finishing 1–10 (0–7 SWC), the Cougars finished the season with a 9–3 record and ranked 18th in the final AP Poll. They were invited to the 1988 Aloha Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, where they lost to Washington State.
See also: 1988 Texas Longhorns football team.
See also: 1988 Wyoming Cowboys football team.
See main article: 1989 NFL draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Cornerback | 5 | 122 | San Francisco 49ers | |
| Defensive tackle | 5 | 131 | Houston Oilers | |
| Wide receiver | 10 | 253 | Detroit Lions | |