Oregon State Vs. Wake Forest – Can The Beavers Finally Snap The Skid In A Cross-Country Clash?

The Oregon State Beavers (0-6) are staring down the barrel of an unwanted milestone: starting 0-7 for the first time in program history. Enter the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-2, 1-2 ACC), who make the long trek from Winston-Salem to Corvallis for a Saturday matinee at Reser Stadium. This non-conference matchup, kicking off at 12:30 p.m. PT on The CW, pits two programs in flux against each other—Oregon State navigating life as an independent amid Pac-12 realignment woes, and Wake Forest under first-year head coach Jake Dickert, who’s rebuilding after bolting from Washington State.

For the Beavers, this game represents more than just homecoming—it’s a desperate bid for relevance. Head coach Trent Bray, now 1-12 in his last 13 games, has overseen a season marred by close calls and self-inflicted wounds. Losses to Houston (27-24 in overtime) and Appalachian State (27-23) were particularly gut-wrenching, with missed field goals, goal-line stands, and turnovers sealing their fate. As Bray put it in his Monday press conference, “We’re 0-6, that’s disappointing. That’s not where we thought we’d be… We’ve got to keep coaching these guys and put them in positions to be successful. Then, we’ve got to go out there and make those plays when we have the opportunity.”

Wake Forest, meanwhile, is finding its footing under Dickert, who led the Demon Deacons to a gritty 30-23 upset over Virginia Tech last week. Dickert, no stranger to the Beavers after facing them as Washington State’s coach (including a 41-38 loss to Oregon State in 2024), has high praise for his opponent. “I’ve got tons of respect for Coach Bray. He’s an absolutely fantastic coach,” Dickert said. “The narrative is wrong, in my opinion. I know exactly what he’s going through during these couple of transitional years out there. They’ve played—what I would think is—the hardest schedule in the country… (Oregon State) is a Power Four football team in my mind. Always has been.”

The Deacons started 2-0 with wins over Kennesaw State and FCS Western Carolina, stumbled against NC State and Georgia Tech (a 30-29 overtime heartbreaker), but rebounded against the Hokies. Dickert highlighted a third-quarter goal-line stand as a defining moment: “That’s one of those program things… This is who we are on tape (and) this is our identity now. (Opponents) are getting a fight every week when you play us.”

Betting lines reflect the intrigue: Wake Forest is a slim 2.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 52.5, per FanDuel. ESPN Analytics gives Oregon State a 49.5% chance to win, underscoring how evenly matched these squads appear despite the records. Wake’s cross-country travel—through three time zones—adds another layer, as Dickert noted: “I’m very thankful for this game, even for myself to just get familiar with taking a team across the country, because we’re going to have to do it quite often in this league.”

Things to Watch

1. Oregon State’s Special Teams Overhaul: The Beavers’ special teams have been a disaster, contributing to multiple losses with blocked punts, missed kicks, and poor coverage. Bray fired coordinator Jamie Christian last week, handing the reins to defensive analyst Robb Akey on an interim basis. “It’s been an evaluation of the whole year,” Bray explained. “It just continued to be a problem, so we made that decision.” Wake Forest ranks among the most penalized teams nationally (69 penalty yards per game, tied for 114th in FBS), while Oregon State is surprisingly disciplined (No. 6 at 29.5 yards per game). If Akey can stabilize the unit, it could flip field position in a close game. But as BeaversEdge’s podcast hosts noted, “Firing the special teams coordinator isn’t going to fix all of Oregon State’s problems. The offense is stagnant, the defense inconsistent.”
2. Battle of Subpar Rushing Attacks: Neither team runs the ball well—Oregon State sits 128th nationally at 94.5 yards per game, Wake 77th. The Beavers hope to expand their backfield with redshirt freshman Cornell Hatcher Jr., who rushed for 93 yards on 17 carries against Houston but saw just four touches vs. App State. Starter Anthony Hankerson is nursing an ankle injury, prompting Bray to say, “We need to play Cornell more and take some off Anthony, especially since Anthony is beat up.” Wake counters with Demond Claiborne (395 yards on 53 carries, averaging over 7 yards per pop), though he’s battled rib and knee injuries. If Claiborne sits, Ty Clark (who had 40 yards and a TD last week) steps up. Oregon State’s defense must contain Wake’s ground game, which hit 210 yards against Georgia Tech but sputtered to 91 vs. Virginia Tech.
3. Dual-Threat Quarterbacks and Explosive Plays: Wake’s Robby Ashford, a former Oregon Duck, leads the team in rushes (57 for 233 yards, 4 TDs) while throwing for 1,172 yards (2 TDs, 4 INTs). He’s exceeded 200 passing yards in all five starts but lives on big plays—six Deacons have 30+ yard catches, led by slot receiver Chris Barnes (20 catches, 308 yards). Oregon State’s Maalik Murphy, a Duke transfer, has 1,523 passing yards (9 TDs, 7 INTs) but struggles with turnovers and can’t take snaps under center due to a hand injury, limiting short-yardage options. Bray plans more packages for athletic backup Gabarri Johnson: “Doing more with (Johnson) is what we want to do anyway because (he’s) a very talented quarterback.” The Beavers’ secondary has been vulnerable to deep balls, while Wake’s defense has allowed 150+ rushing yards in its last two games. As OregonLive’s sneak peek warns, “Containing the quarterback run-game and forcing incompletions will be critical.” Wake’s safety Nick Andersen (41 tackles) could feast on Murphy’s downfield risks.
4. Trap Game Potential for Wake?: Wake Forest experts are wary of complacency. SI’s Blake Robison calls it a “breeding ground for trap games,” citing UCLA’s upset of Penn State last week. “If Wake Forest does not stay locked onto improving week by week and writes this one off as over, then the Beavers could burst the Deacs’ dam,” he writes. Dickert’s staff, including DC Scottie Hazelton (who knows Murphy from last year), is motivated: “The guys know him well… The guys want to go back there and see that guy again.” Oregon State’s depth chart shows continuity, but injuries loom.
5. Motivation and Identity: Both teams seek defining wins. Wake is forging a tough identity, per Dickert, while Oregon State eyes momentum for the rebuilt Pac-12. Bray emphasized finishing strong: “Momentum moving forward is a good thing, no question.”

Prediction: Will the Beavers Finally Win?

This feels like Oregon State’s best shot yet at victory No. 1. Home field, Wake’s travel fatigue, and the Beavers’ urgency could tip the scales in a sloppy, low-scoring affair. Wake’s penalties and injury questions (Claiborne, Ashford) play into OSU’s hands, and if Hatcher sparks the run game while the defense contains Ashford’s legs, Bray’s squad pulls it off.

Oregon State 27, Wake Forest 24. Yes, the Beavers finally win—barely—snapping the streak and breathing life into a lost season. Expect a nail-biter that underscores Dickert’s respect: These Beavers are better than their record suggests.