The Big Red were led by sixth-year head coach Maxie Baughan and played their home games at Schoellkopf Field.
"[3] The Big Red eventually entered the final week of the season, in which they would face their undefeated rival Penn, having lost two games and tied one; Penn was the last remaining undefeated Division I-AA football team in 1988 and had won or shared the Ivy League title five times in the previous six seasons.
During the game, which Cornell would have to win to share the conference title with Penn, nine personal fouls were assessed between the two teams.
Cornell eventually broke a 3–3 halftime tie to deliver Penn's first defeat of the season and win a share of the Ivy League title for the first time since 1971.
[4] The 1988 season was Maxie Baughan's sixth and final season as head coach of the Cornell Big Red; he resigned in early 1989 after allegations surfaced that the married Baughan had a romantic relationship with top assistant coach Peter Noyes' wife.