The 1987 John Hancock Sun Bowl was the 54th annual Sun Bowl games. 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. It was arguably one of the most entertaining games of the 1987-88 bowl season. The game was played on snowy, cold Christmas Day of 1987 before a crowd of 43,240 in front of a CBS national television audience. Thurman Thomas still holds three Sun Bowl records: most rushing attempts (33), most points (24) and most touchdowns (4).