CORVALLIS — Nobody was very happy by the end of Oregon State’s 24-13 loss to San Jose State Saturday at Reser Stadium.

Not Beaver fans in a crowd announced at 37,187 — perhaps there were that many tickets sold, but certainly not butts in the seats — after watching their team lose its fourth straight game, fall to 4-5 for the season and put a potential bowl game berth in serious jeopardy.

Certainly not the Oregon State coaches and players, who will check out the stats and review game video and wonder how and why they let that one get away.

Not even the winning Spartans — at least not Ken Niumatalolo, the first-year coach whose name rivals DJ Uiagalelei as the most difficult to spell in college sports. Coach N, still livid after an offensive pass interference call erased a touchdown reception, chased a referee across the field after his post-game handshake with OSU coach Trent Bray. A lip reader would have blushed at the language the Spartan coach used while drawing a sideline unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that put his team in a see-it-to-believe-it third-and-38 situation in the fourth quarter.

Bray had his moments of ire with the striped shirts, too, notably near the end of the first half when OSU cornerback Andre Jordan was flagged for a phantom pass interference call in the end zone. Bray’s rage was tempered when Beaver linebacker Nikko Taylor blocked the ensuing field goal attempt, but he, too, sent an official into the locker room with some words that shouldn’t be used in a Sunday School lesson.

It was that kind of day for the officials, and for the Beavers, too. Frustrating, and inefficient, at least at getting it right when the need was there.

Oregon State amassed 29 first downs, 182 yards rushing and 474 yards total offense. The Beavers nearly doubled San Jose State in time of possession — 39:45 to 20:15 — and had an 82-53 advantage in total plays. (Parenthetically, SJS defenders made 96 tackles, including assists; Oregon State had 41). In 10 possessions, OSU entered Spartan territory eight times, including five forays to inside the 20. And came away with 13 points.

“Getting into the Red Zone and not putting points on the board — that really was the game for us,” Bray said during his two-minute, 58-second post-game press availability that may have set some kind of record for brevity. “Either we don’t get points or we’re kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns.

“It’s about executing when it’s critical — the Red Zone, third or fourth down. That’s the big thing that we can take away from why we’re in this rut we’re in.”

Bray gave quarterback Ben Gulbranson his first start since the 2022 season, and the redshirt junior had a lot of good moments, completing 24 of 37 passes for 292 yards. On OSU’s play from scrimmage, Gulbranson connected with tight end Jermaine Terry for 38 yards. He later found Trent Walker for 43 yards and completed at least one pass with seven different receivers.

But Gulbranson also put the ball in the hands of two San Jose State defenders, including a gimme pick-six to cornerback DJ Harvey, who waltzed into the end zone with a 16-yard return to give the Spartans a lead (at 17-13) they wouldn’t relinquish with 11 minutes remaining. The other interception came with the Beavers in desperation mode, trailing 24-13 but with the ball on the Spartan 4 inside the final two minutes.

“Early in the game, (Gulbranson) was doing some good things,” Bray said. “He made some throws. He was managing (the offense). Late in the game, the interceptions hurt us.”

The first one, Bray allowed, “was a killer. It’s not only a turnover, but it’s points on the board (for the opponent). Especially in tight games, when one or two plays is going to determine the outcome.”

The OSU coaches deserve some admonishment for the outcome, too. Bray has chosen to be aggressive on going for it on fourth down this season, sometimes to his team’s detriment.

Oregon State had taken a 13-10 lead on a 34-yard Everett Hayes field goal on its first third-quarter possession and barreled down the field on the next drive, getting to first-and-goal at the San Jose State 4. A touchdown would have meant a 20-10 advantage near the end of the quarter and put the Spartans behind the eight-ball.

The Beavers stalled, losing a yard on two runs and an errant Gulbranson incomplete pass. A chip-shot field goal would have at least resulted in a 16-10 edge, but Bray and offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson chose to go for it on fourth-and-five. Gulbranson’s pass wasn’t close to receiver Darrius Clemons, and the Spartans took over on downs. It just felt like the wrong call, and as it turned out, a field goal there would have left the Beavers in a one-score game on their final possession late in the game.

Then there was Oregon State’s defense, which absolutely stuffed the run — San Jose State rushed for 68 yards. But quarterback Walker Eget, in only his fourth start, passed the Beavers dizzy. He threw for 258 yards in the first half and 395 for the game. He was only 18 for 35 but had six completions of between 33 and 40 yards — five in the first half — with an average of 21.9 yards per reception. Receiver Nick Nash, who came into the game as the nation’s leader in receptions (80) and receiving TDs (12), snagged six for 161 yards and a score.

The Beavers had no sacks. Eget mostly had all day to throw. Yet Oregon State rushed three or four linemen nearly every play, with almost no blitz package. I asked Bray why.

“Against this offense, the ball comes out too fast,” he replied. “That’s why there wasn’t more blitzing. You’re wasting guys in coverage. We had to be able to win with four, and we didn’t do it.”

But even with seven or eight players in coverage, SJS receivers found plenty of open space, and Eget got the ball to them for huge chunks of yardage. The Spartan QB was far too comfortable in the pocket. It seems that some sort of adjustment at halftime with at least some blitzing to apply pressure was warranted.

Some good performance was wasted. Walker caught a career-high 11 passes for 151 yards; the former walk-on from Beaverton High now has 62 receptions this season. Though his fumble on OSU’s first possession coughed up the ball at the San Jose State 15, Anthony Hankerson rushed for 121 yards and a TD on 30 carries. True freshman Salahadin Allah showed some sizzle with 68 yards on nine totes.

And the OSU defense bent a lot but rarely broke, giving up only two offensive touchdowns on the day.

But a loss is a loss, and now the Beavers face an uphill task to get to six wins and a bowl appearance. First up is next Saturday’s game at Air Force, 2-7 but a 36-28 victor over Fresno on Saturday. After that is Washington State at home and a road test at Boise State. Both teams are 8-1 and ranked among the nation’s top 20. If the Beavers don’t beat the Falcons, odds are they finish Bray’s first season with a seven-game losing streak.

I’m not sure if Bray and Gunderson will go back to Gevani McCoy, who didn’t see a snap at quarterback Saturday, or stay with Gulbranson at Air Force. I’d go to McCoy, who has vertical passing challenges but can run, scramble and extend plays with the best of them.

That’s for the coaches to figure out. Sometimes it takes just one win to turn things around. The Beavers certainly can get that Saturday at Colorado Springs. It’s clear that the players haven’t quit on the coaching staff. Bray isn’t going to turn to his young players to get them ready for 2025. He is going to go with the players he has been going with and do all he can to win now.

“You don’t quit on anyone,” Bray said. “They’re where they’re at for a reason. We’re going to stick behind them and believe in them.”

► ◄

Readers: what are your thoughts? I would love to hear them in the comments below. On the comments entry screen, only your name is required, your email address and website are optional, and may be left blank.

Follow me on X (formerly Twitter).

Like me on Facebook.

Find me on Instagram.

Be sure to sign up for my emails.