The 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented the
Oklahoma State University in the
1987 NCAA Division I-A college football season. The Cowboys finished the regular season with a 9–2 record.
Thurman Thomas was in his senior year for the Cowboys. In his career at Oklahoma State, Thomas had 897 rushes for 4,595 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 21 100-yard rushing games. He was also a
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...
candidate and a first team selection on the
College Football All-America Team in 1987. In the
1987 Sun Bowl
The 1987 John Hancock Sun Bowl was the 54th annual Sun Bowl. The contest featured the West Virginia Mountaineers and the 11th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys. Oklahoma State edged out West Virginia, 35–33. The game was decided with 1:13 to play. ...
, Thomas ran for 157 yards and four touchdowns in the 35–33 victory over
West Virginia, keeping
Barry Sanders on the sidelines for the majority of the game. Thomas left OSU as the school's all-time leading rusher and his number 34 is one of only three jerseys retired at Oklahoma State. Sanders replaced Thomas as starter the next year in 1988.
Schedule
Personnel
Game summaries
Colorado
*OSU - Sanders 4 Run (Blanchard kick)
*OSU - Dykes 18 Gundy (Blanchard kick)
*COL - Simmons 7 Run (Hannah kick)
*COL - Hannah 32 FG
*OSU - Williams 16 Gundy (Blanchard kick)
*OSU - Thomas 5 Run (Blanchard kick)
*COL - Bieniemy 6 Run (Hannah kick)
*OSU - Limbrick 3 Run (Blanchard kick)
*OSU - Sanders 73 punt return (Blanchard kick)
*Passing: COL Aunese 5/11, 90 Yds, INT, OSU Gundy 21/28, 257 Yds, 2 TD, INT
*Rushing: COL Flannagan 9/52, OSU Thomas 23/110
*Receiving: COL Carl 3/61, OSU Dykes 8/114, TD
After the season
The 1988 NFL Draft was held on April 24–25, 1988. The following Cowboys were selected.
Awards and honors
*Thurman Thomas, Heisman Trophy finalist
*Thurman Thomas, All-America selection
References
{{Oklahoma State Cowboys football navbox
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys football seasons
Sun Bowl champion seasons
Oklahoma State Cowboys football