1988 All-American Bowl

The 1988 All-American Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama between the and the University of Florida Gators on December 29, 1988. The game was the final contest of the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 14–10 victory for Florida.

Game summary
Head Coach John Mackovic led Illinois to a surprising 6-4-1 record and a third-place finish in the Big Ten, earning a berth opposite traditional SEC powerhouse Florida in the All-American Bowl. On the first play from scrimmage, Florida freshman sensation Emmitt Smith scampered 55 yards for a touchdown. Illinois tied the score on a 30-yard run by Keith Jones in the second quarter. After a fourth-quarter Doug Higgins field goal gave Illinois a three-point lead, Smith scored his second touchdown with less than four minutes remaining to give the Gators the victory.

Statistical summary
Team Statistics

(Rushing-Passing-Total): UI - 55-194-249; UF - 187-69-256.

Individual Statistical Leaders

Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI - Jones 18-88-1; UF - Smith 28-159-2.

Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI - Jeff George 37-20-2-0-194; UF - Kyle Morris 12-6-2-0-50.

Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI - Mike Bellamy 5-49-0; Steven Williams 5-49-0; UF - Terence Barber 4-29-0.