Most nightmares are temporary. When you wake up, you feel massive relief.
It would be refreshing to report that Oregon State has woken up from its nightmare – but, sadly, untrue.
The Pac 12 started to unravel in 2022 when USC and UCLA defected to the Big 10. The powers that be diddled for the next year and could not come to an agreeable deal with legacy media. A potential streaming deal was viewed as too dicey. Eight of the 10 remaining members scattered to 3 conferences, leaving Oregon State and Washington State as orphans.
Oregon State had a very good team in 2023 that could not quite get over the hump. The Beavers’ vastly diminished financial resources caused Jonathan Smith to bolt Corvallis along with prized QB, Aidan Chiles at the end of the 2023 season That Smith had quarterbacked one of the greatest Beaver teams of all time under Dennis Erickson added considerable salt to a gaping wound upon his exit.
2024’s mediocre 5-7 mark looks fantastic compared to this year’s 2-8 dumpster fire. After starting 0-7, the Beavers were riding a 2-game winning streak as winless Sam Houston State ventured to Corvallis last Saturday. The Beavers were a 20 point favorite against the hapless Bearkats. To demonstrate how much saturation of TV games exists, this clunker of a game was televised on CW. Our sincerest condolences went out to Ted Robinson, the peerless commentator who was saddled with this lemon.
At halftime, the score was close to predicted: 17-7 in favor of Oregon State. The yardage starts for the game verified the wisdom of the Beavers being a big favorite as OSU outgained SHSU by over 300 yards (472 vs 157). HOWEVER!
Sam Houston State returned the opening 2nd half kickoff for a TD and later returned a blocked punt for another TD. 21-17 for Sam Houston State. SHSU appeared in control in the game’s final two minutes, having the ball at their 30 with Oregon State down to their last timeout. Instead of running the ball on 3rd and 8 as Ryan Leaf insisted was the right call, the Bearkats attempted a pass. As if an apt metaphor for the Bearkats winless season, the pass is intercepted. Yet, the Beavers, given the gift, cannot move the ball after romping up and down the field for the previous 58 minutes. Ballgame.
Oregon State’s special teams must be the worst in the country. Maybe ever! This is the 2nd game that special teams directly contributed to a Beaver loss (their loss to Fresno State improbably provided even more special team breakdowns).
The Odyssey roots for Oregon State and is still mad that their Pac12 brethen abandoned the Beavers. At some point down the road, we hope they wake up from their nightmare.