1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football Oklahoma State Athletics logo (1984-2000).svg 150 Big Eight Conference Big 8 12 11 10–2 5–2 Pat Jones 4th Larry Coker 5th Louis Campbell 3rd Lewis Field Sun Bowl champion Sun Bowl W 35–33 vs. West Virginia The 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented 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 candidate and a first team selection on the College Football All-America Team in 1987. In the 1987 Sun Bowl, 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 1987 AP Central September 5 w y Tulsa Boone Pickens Stadium Stillwater, OK rivalry 39–28 46,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-o-state-outguns-tulsa-3928/171996818/ Tulsa World O-State outguns Tulsa, 39–28 September 6, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 12 w y y Houston Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 35–0 16,285 https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-record-news-sanders-runs-begin-ro/172129053/ Times Record News Sanders' runs begin romp; Oklahoma State zaps UH September 13, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 19 w y y Wyoming War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY 35–29 20,852 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salina-journal-osu-tops-wyoming/172093875/ The Salina Journal OSU tops Wyoming September 20, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 w y Southwestern Louisiana Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 36–0 44,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-psst-theres-another/172085500/ The Wichita Eagle Beacon Psst! There's another football team in Oklahoma September 27, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 w 19 Colorado Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 42–17 42,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-cowboys-triplets-sen/172328658/ Omaha World-Herald Cowboys' triplets send message to Nebraska with rout of Buffs October 11, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 l 12 Nebraska 2 Lewis Field Stillwater, OK CBS 0–35 50,440 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-nebraska-finally-puts-it-al/172327770/ Star Tribune Nebraska finally puts it all together October 18, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 24 w y 19 Missouri Faurot Field Columbia, MO 24–20 37,638 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-ohlahoma-state/172328927/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Oklahoma State cuts off Missouri with the pass October 25, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 w 17 y Kansas State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 56–7 40,150 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-olathe-daily-news-trick-on-k-state/172329120/ The Olathe Daily News Trick on K-State; Oklahoma State routs Wildcats, 56–7 November 1, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 7 l y 12 Oklahoma 1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK Bedlam 10–29 75,004 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-sooners-winand-pay-for-it/172327052/ Tulsa World Sooners win...and pay for it November 8, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 14 w y 17 Kansas Memorial Stadium Lawrence KS 49–17 18,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montana-standard-cowboys-burn-jayhaw/172329523/ The Montana Standard Cowboys burn Jayhawks, 49–17 November 15, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 w 13 Iowa State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 48–27 33,400 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-thomas-sets-schoo/172329754/ The Sioux City Journal Thomas sets school record as Cowboys top Cyclones November 22, 1987 May 13, 2025 Newspapers.com December 25 w y y 11 West Virginia Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Sun Bowl CBS 35–33 43,240 https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-times-cowboys-win-sun-in-the-sno/140069038/ The El Paso Times Cowboys win Sun in the snow December 26, 1987 February 1, 2024 Newspapers.com 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football November 1, 2017 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/oklahoma-state/1987-schedule.html Game summaries Colorado Colorado 0 10 7 0 Oklahoma St 14 0 14 14 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 Gainesville Sun. 1987 Oct 11. Retrieved 2019-Jan-07. Roster 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys y 11 Jr Hart Lee Dykes WR y 12 So Mike Gundy QB y 21 So Barry Sanders RB y 34 Sr Thurman Thomas RB y 53 So Sim Drain III LB Sr Ricky Shaw LB y Pat Jones Larry Coker – Offensive coordinator Houston Nutt – Quarterback/Wide receivers Bill Shimek – Running backs Steve Gardner – Tight ends Brad Seely – Offensive line Louis Campbell – Defensive coordinator/defensive backs George Walstad – Defensive line Kenith Pope – Defensive ends Jonny Barr – Linebackers Awards and honors Thurman Thomas: Heisman Trophy finalist, All-America After the season The 1988 NFL draft was held on April 24–25, 1988. The following Cowboys were selected.https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1988/draft.htm 1988 NFL Draft Listing Pro-Football-Reference.com March 13, 2021 Oklahoma State Cowboys Round Pick Player Position NFL club 2 40 Thurman Thomas Running back Buffalo Bills 4 92 Ricky Shaw Linebacker New York Giants References Oklahoma State Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys football seasons Category:Sun Bowl champion seasons Oklahoma State Cowboys football