1988 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team

The 1988 Southwest Missouri State Bears football team represented Southwest Missouri State University (now known as Missouri State University) as a member of the Gateway Football Conference (GFC) during the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Jesse Branch, the Bears compiled an overall record of 5–5, with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the GFC.