Being the unwanted orphans due to the dissolution of the Pac 12 conference has been painful. No matter what Oregon State and Washington State have tried to do in a futile, flaying manner, their relegation has been inevitable in the Moneyball era of college football.
Their former head coaches escaped, like rats diving off a sinking ship. The departure of Jonathan Smith from Oregon State was doubly painful. Not only had Smith been an excellent coach for the Beavers, he was a great QB for the Beavers’ most celebrated team of the past half century – the squad that rolled over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
Jake Dickert bolted from the Palouse last December for that renowned ACC power, Wake Forest (drumroll for sarcasm)., That Smith also left for a lower echelon Power 4 team in Michigan State speaks volumes.
Last Saturday was their mutual nadir to date after nightmarish visits to the Lone Star state. Washington State turned the ball over 5 times in the first half against North Texas and was annihilated, 59-10. Texas Tech’s bloated payroll rolled to a 28-0 halftime lead against the Beavers and coasted home.
While last Saturday was a mutual nightmare, it might get even worse this Saturday. Both squads face their intrastate Big Brothers who bolted for Big 10 money. Oregon is favored by 5 TDs. Even though Washington is travelling to the Palouse, the Huskies are 20 point favorites.
Next year, the Oregon-Oregon State game will not even be played. OUCH!