The last year has been a whirlwind for the Pac-12 and Oregon State football. With so much change, there is a lot of uncertainty about the program’s future. Just as the Beavers were returning to national prominence, everything was turned upside down.
Coach Jonathan Smith brought the Beavers back to winning form before his departure to Michigan State. They had finished within the top 20 the last 2 seasons and looked as if they could be creeping towards College Football Playoff contention as it expanded to 12 teams. However, after the Pac-12 realignment, coach Smith and many key players left, the focus shifted from competing to keeping the football program alive.
Thus far, Oregon State deserves props for how it has handled everything. They held their ground with the Pac-12, winning court battles and continuing operations as usual. A 2-1 start to the season has shown the Beavers looking less phased by the drama than expected. A smack-down from the Ducks was to be expected with just 3 returning starters from Jonathan Smith’s squad.
As they enter Mountain West play, the Beavers look like a serviceable football team. Currently, the odds on various betting apps have their win total set at over/under 7.5. Though they have a schedule agreement with the Mountain West Conference, the Beavs aren’t eligible for a conference championship. This means no bid to the playoff is in range.
Recent news broke that four Mountain West schools are set to join the Pac-12 in 2026. Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, and San Diego State are four of the best programs in the conference they are leaving. It may not be Oregon and USC, but they are competitive schools. Yet, at least two more programs are needed for The Pac-12 to be recognized as an eligible conference. It will be interesting to see who else comes over (or back) now that the ball is rolling. There is speculation that Stanford and Cal may not work out in the ACC, so they could be candidates to rejoin. Other potential candidates are Air Force, Memphis, Tulane, or USF. Longshots options Florida State and Clemson are disgruntled schools who are suing the ACC.
First-year head coach Trent Bray has done a great job of retaining Oregon State’s culture with the overhauled roster. Dating back decades, the Beavers have been at a clear disadvantage in recruiting against rival Oregon. They don’t have the flashy equipment and facilities, or now the endless NIL money from Phil Knight to compete with the Ducks. The way Oregon State pitches itself to recruits has always been culture. Oregon State prides itself on hard work over talent and will continue to do so.
With the conference situation up in the air and a head coach departure, the Beavs were sure to lose many recruits. They had started to snag a few four-star athletes here and there as the team improved, but now the strategy must shift back to targeting under-the-radar players with heart. The new pitch to players is finding those willing to take on the challenge of joining a program overlooked by the nation.
While a lot has and will continue to change, the Oregon State football team has been taking the punches in stride. They won’t get the coverage or recruits the Ducks do, but they will fight and compete. Once the Pac-12 is rebuilt, there is an optimistic path toward the CFP. The drop-off hasn’t been as big as expected, and the recovery looks like it will be faster than imagined.
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