How will the Beavers fare in ’24? The experts have their say
Oregon State’s radio broadcast team — Mike Parker (left) on play-by-play, Jim Wilson as analyst (courtesy Karl Maasdam/OSU sports communications)
Updated 8/22/2024 5:17 AM
A new era of Oregon State football begins on Aug. 31 when the Beavers face FCS opponent Idaho State in a 3:30 p.m. season opener at Reser Stadium.
A new conference — the Pac-2, so to speak. A new head coach — Trent Bray. And an almost entirely new starting lineup, due mostly to graduation and the transfer portal.
Bray is on record as saying his goal is to make the 12-team college football playoffs this season.
“I truly believe we are more than capable of getting to the (CFP),” Bray said in December at his introductory press conference. In an interview six weeks later, he told me, “With the coaching staff we have in place, with the talent we have and the way our schedule is set up, we have a chance to win a lot of games. If you do that, you’ve got a chance (to make the CFP).”
A look at OSU’s 2024 schedule supports Bray’s assessment.
A Civil War victory would go down as an upset of Buster Douglas over Tyson, Chaminade over Virginia, Appalachian State over Michigan proportions. In each of Oregon State’s other 11 games, they would seem to have at least a reasonable chance for victory.
If the Beavers were to run the (rest of the) table, go 11-1 and secure a ranking among the nation’s top 11 teams, they could indeed win a spot in the CFP lineup. (It’s top 12, unless one of the five top-ranked conference champions is not ranked among the top 12, which is unlikely.). There are seven games at Reser Stadium, where the Beavers are 16-2 this season. That helps. A lot of things have to go right for that to happen, but that’s why they play the games.
I called upon a group of insiders to help take a game-by-game look at what might happen through the upcoming season — broadcasters Mike Parker, Jim “The Whale” Wilson, Ron Callan, Steve Preece and Jon Warren. The result:
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IDAHO STATE:
2023 record: 3-8 overall, 3-5 in Big Sky
Head coach: Cody Hawkins, third year
Picked to finish eighth in Big Sky in media poll and 10th in coaches poll.
Notes: Cody’s father, former Boise State coach Dan Hawkins, is director of player and staff development. … Phil Steele named two Bengals to his preseason Big Sky first team: safety Calvin Pitcher (87 tackles in 2023) and receiver Christian Fredericksen (53 catches for 791 yards and five touchdowns in 2023). … Quarterback Jordan Cooke, a 6-4, 210-pound junior, completed 209 of 355 passes (.588) for 2,453 yards and 12 TDs with 13 interceptions last season. He threw for 389 yards and two TDs in a 42-41 upset of No. 22 Eastern Washington.
CALLAN: This game is a no-brainer. Oregon State will dominate. I know there have been some debacles against FCS teams in the past (Sacramento State in 2011, Eastern Washington in 2013), but that’s not going to happen. The Beavers will come out with emotion. It will be a great way to get ready for what’s next.
PARKER: The Idaho State game represents an opportunity for Oregon State to get off to a good start to the season on both sides of the ball, while also identifying frontrunners for major playing time at certain positions that may still be in competition. I expect the Beavers to have a much better Aug. 31, 2024, than they did an Aug. 31, 2013, when they lost to Vernon Adams and Eastern Washington. Same calendar day, but I foresee a much more pleasant result.
PREECE: This game should be a runaway. The Beavers will be fired up for the opener at home. The kids are determined to get off to a good start.
WARREN: The Beavers should take care of business in this game, despite leading up to the opener still no clearcut favorite for quarterback. Even if Oregon State’s offense isn’t quite up to snuff the first time out, it should be plenty good enough to take care of Idaho State.
WILSON: I don’t see any scenario by which this game is even close. It should be a great way for Oregon State to start the season, get the kinks out and get ready for a big one the following week.
EGGERS: Crazy things can happen when two disparate college football teams match up, but unless the Beavers get turnover-sloppy, they should roll.
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At SAN DIEGO STATE
2023 record: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in Mountain West
Head coach: Sean Lewis, first year
Picked to finish eighth in the Mountain West media poll
Notes: Lewis was the head coach at Kent State from 2018-22, then offensive coordinator under Deion Sanders at Colorado last season. … This is the third season for the Aztecs in 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium. … New RB Marquez Cooper, a 5-8, 200-pound senior who played three years at Kent State under Lewis, is the active FBS leader in both rushing yardage (3,856) and rushing touchdowns (33). Cooper rushed for 1,043 yards and four touchdowns at Ball State last season after rushing for 1,331 yards and 13 TDs at Kent State in 2022.
CALLAN: The Beavers took care of San Diego State at home last season (26-9). This one will be on the road and it won’t be easy, but I think the Beavs have a great chance to get to 2-0. I’ll say 27-20.
PARKER: The San Diego State game is important for the (Oregon State) team and the momentum factor. San Diego State will have a lot of excitement of its own in a beautiful new stadium with a new coach who is highly regarded. It’s a representative game in terms of being similar to other games against Mountain West opponents the Beavers have played in the month of September. It would be a good win against a program I think is on the rise. It’s important for the Beavers to play well and win that game to underscore their credibility as a team that is still operating with a Power Four budget. It’s a game they need to win. I think they will.
PREECE: This will be a tough game for Oregon State. San Diego State is traditionally a good program, but there was a drop-off last season. The Aztecs will still be feeling out things under a new coach. The Beavers’ defense is going to be so good, it will surprise them. I say the Beavers get it done.
WARREN: I’m going to predict a close win for the Beavers based on their defense. I think their linebackers and secondary will play well enough to keep them in the game and allow the offense to get enough points to win against a team with a new coach in his second game.
WILSON: This will be close in a very important game for Oregon State. With Oregon and Purdue looming, the Beavers have to flex their muscles against a San Diego State team that finished 4-8 last year, has a new coach and a new quarterback. The Beaver defense and ground game will be the difference.
EGGERS: Cooper sounds legit, posing a major early challenge to Keith Heyward’s defensive front. The most important matchup could be the Beavers’ front seven against the Aztec’s offensive line. I’m picking Oregon State to win 30-20.
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OREGON
2023 record: 12-2 overall, 8-1 in Pac-12
Head coach: Dan Manning, third year
Picked to finish second in USA Today’s Big Ten poll
Notes: Ranked No. 3 in the AP preseason national poll. … This is the sixth college football season for transfer QB Dillon Gabriel, who in five seasons at Central Florida and Oklahoma has passed for 14,865 yards and 125 touchdowns. Gabriel stands eighth in FBS career passing yardage and needs 4,353 yards to pass Houston’s Case Keener (19,217) to top the list.
CALLAN: I’m calling Oregon “The Flatlanders” now because they are members of the Big Ten. The Flatlanders are loaded. Everyone in the Big Ten is fawning over them. I can tell you the Beavers will approach this game expecting to win, but they will have to play their best game of the year to do it. It’s going to be closer than a lot of people think. If the Beavs play with no turnovers, they could be in it at the end. If they can hold Oregon to 35 points, they have a chance.
PARKER: Oregon is in the conversation for a national championship. The Ducks will be heavily favored. That said, with the Beavers at home and with Trent Bray’s defense, anything is possible, including an upset, which would be of gigantic proportions. If the Beavers find a way for another September upset it would be reminiscent of Sept. 25, 2008 (a 27-21 win over No. 1-ranked Southern Cal at Reser). That was one of the biggest in the program’s history. This would be even bigger given the circumstances that they’re in. It would make a national splash. The Beavers’ defense gives them a chance in any game, including that one.
PREECE: I would love to say Oregon State wins this one. My wish for the season would be to surprise the Ducks. They will be coming off back-to-back 40-to-50-point wins. My guess is if the Beavers come out swinging, they have a prayer. They have so many coaches who played for the Beavers, they know what the Civil War is about. They’ll be so fired up, it will be crazy. If they got out ahead, their defense is good enough they could stay in it. I presume this one will be a Duck win.
WARREN: Oregon has done a tremendous job recruiting. Offensive coordinator Will Stein has a group that could be unstoppable. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel is a Heisman Trophy candidate who will keep their offensive machine rolling. Oregon will come in and beat the Beavers in Reser.
WILSON: Oregon will likely be a top-five team after an easy win over Idaho and a tough win at home against Boise State. The transfer portal has been very good to Oregon; my hope is the Beavers can rise up and keep it close enough to have a puncher’s chance at the end.
EGGERS: These teams are now in different leagues — literally, figuratively and financially. The Beavers are 16-2 at home the past three years and the crowd will be on their side, but this is the one game on their schedule that have very little chance to win. I could see the Beavers sticking around for a half, but I am thinking of a final score somewhere around 45-20.
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PURDUE
2023 record: 4-8 overall, 3-6 in Big Ten
Head coach: Ryan Walters, second year
Picked to finish 18th in USA Today’s Big Ten poll
Notes: Purdue’s Hudson Card is one of two Big Ten quarterbacks on the watch list for the Manning Award. The 6-3, 210-pound senior threw for 2,387 yards and 15 TDs in 11 starts last season. … Purdue junior Devin Mockobee, who rushed for 1,779 yards and 15 TDs over the past two seasons, has added 10 pounds to his 6-foot frame and now weighs 205 … has Safety Dillon Thieneman, a 6-foot, 205-pound sophomore safety, was Big Ten Defensive Freshman of the Year and an AP third-team All-American last season.
CALLAN: I put this one down as a “W” for Oregon State. The Beavers had a great chance to win at Purdue in 2021 and let it slip away (30-21); it will be retribution this time. I think Oregon State’s running game will click into gear in this one. It will be a victory over a Power Five team, and an impressive one.
PARKER: I expect the Beavers to hold serve at home. They are better than Purdue on a neutral field. Whatever Purdue’s status may be at that point in the season, it would be a win over a Big Ten opponent. That’s important from a credibility standpoint. I expect the Beavers to finish out the month of September in a good place with the right kind of opponent.
PREECE: Oregon State will win this one. Purdue struggled last season and is not expected to be very competitive in the Big Ten this season. It was such a big game in the Giant Killers’ year (1967, when Preece quarterbacked OSU to a 22-14 upset of No. 2-ranked Purdue at West Lafayette, Ind.), but that won’t be the case this season.
WARREN: Purdue is very solid at quarterback and running back, and the Boilermakers aren’t going to be an easy opponent to put away. But since it’s a home game, I lean toward the Beavers.
WILSON: This is the second in a stretch of three straight home games and four in the first five. The hope is Oregon State comes in no worse than 2-1 and leaves 3-1. Like Trent Bray, Walters is a defense coach so I expect the Boilermakers to be physical and improved on that side of the ball. On offense, coordinator Graham Harrell and quarterback Hudson Card will be in their second year together. I expect an absolute dogfight; I am counting on the Reser Stadium crowd to be the difference.
EGGERS: Nothing much is expected out of Purdue this year, predicted by Big Ten media to finish last in the conference this season. And though the Boilermakers are a Power Five team, it would be an “uh oh” moment if the Beavers should lose to them at home. It won’t be a blowout, but I don’t see that happening.
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COLORADO STATE
2023 record: 5-7 overall, 3-5 in Mountain West
Head coach: Jay Norvell, third year
Picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West
Notes: Brayden Fowl-Nicolosi, a 6-2, 200-pound sophomore, is one of three Mountain West quarterbacks on the watch list for the Manning Award … Colorado State suffered last-minute losses to Colorado (43-35 in double-overtime), UNLV (25-23) and Hawaii (27-24) last season … the Rams lost linebacker Mohamed Kamara, the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. He is now with the Miami Dolphins.
CALLAN: The last time these teams played was in Fort Collins in 2017 when Gary Andersen was Oregon State’s coach. The Beavers trailed 24-20 at halftime and got outscored 34-7 in the second half (to lose 58-27). That’s not going to happen this time. It’s a “have-to-win” game for the Beavs. If they lose, it will be dreary. I say Oregon State wins 35-21.
PARKER: Colorado State is picked in the upper half of the (Mountain West) conference. That’s a quality opponent. If the game were in Fort Collins, it would be a much more dodgy proposition. The Beavers have been very good at home in recent years. Trent Bray is going to continue that. It will be a challenge, but to get the Rams at home, I think the Beavers keep the momentum going against a program that is also improving.
PREECE: Colorado State had a decent team last season. (The Rams) have some stars. Oregon State’s strength this season is going to be defense. The whole defensive system is going to be so aggressive. They will play their tails off, and the home crowd is such an advantage, it’s a six- or seven-point difference. If the Beavers can get ahead and control the ball on offense, they will win.
WARREN: Colorado State is still building its program, with an offensive based around a good quarterback. I think Oregon State’s defense will be up to the challenge, though, and by this time, the Beavers should have a quarterback established to provide some consistency on offense. I say Oregon State in this one.
WILSON: Coming off a bye week, I expect the Beavers to win this one at home. Norvell and offensive coordinator Matt Mumme form the duo that combined to beat Oregon State in 2018 when they were at Nevada — but not this time.
EGGERS: The Rams’ big goal for this season is to close games out and not let them slip away in the final minutes. This one could come down to that, but if the Beavers play a low-turnover game, they should prevail.
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At NEVADA
2023 record: 2-10 overall, 2-6 in Mountain West
Head coach: Jeff Choate, first year
Picked to finish 12th in the Mountain West
Notes: Nevada offensive coordinator Matt Lubick served in the same capacity at Oregon, Washington and Nebraska, and was the DBs coach at Oregon State during the 1999-2000 seasons… Sixth-year senior Sean Dollars, 5-9 and 200 pounds, who rushed for 527 yards and six TDs last season, is on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award.
CALLAN: It’s another “must-win” situation for Oregon State, and a road game at Nevada is rarely easy. I’m going to say 28-21 Beavers.
PARKER: The Beavers have not had great experiences down there in the past, though Dennis Erickson got his first win (as an Oregon State coach, 28-13 in 1999) in Reno. I think Trent Bray will follow Dennis and get a win in his first game at Mackay Stadium.
PREECE: I have this one down as an easy win. On paper, it should be. You still have to come out and play the game, but I think the Beavers will make sure they win this one.
WARREN: Nevada is a mess. (The Wolfpack) are only going to be slightly better than they were a year ago. Oregon State should win this one handily.
WILSON: The last time the Beavers played in Reno was 2018, when they lost 37-35. That won’t happen this time. The well-traveled Choate is a defensive guy. The Wolfpack’s roster turnover has been high after a 2-10 season and they could have a guy named Purdy at quarterback — Chubba, Brock’s younger brother. The Beavers’ biggest obstacle is this game is on the road.
EGGERS: Jordan Choukair’s missed 33-yard field goal as time expired cost Oregon State in that two-point loss at Reno six years ago. This one won’t come down to that. It should be a solid road victory for the Beavers.
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NEVADA-LAS VEGAS
2023 record: 9-5 overall, 6-2 in Mountain West
Head coach: Barry Odom, second year
Picked to finish second in the Mountain West
Notes: Odom was head coach at Missouri from 2016-19 … Quarterback Jayden Malava, who passed for 3,085 yards and 17 TDs as a redshirt freshman last season, transferred to USC. In his place is 6-3, 215-pound senior Matthew Sluka, a transfer from Holy Cross and the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. … Receiver Jacob DeJesus, a 5-7, 175-pound senior, was a USA Today second-team All-American last season with 60 receptions for 606 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged 25.7 yards on 32 kickoff returns.
CALLAN: It’s going to be a special weekend with a big celebration for what would have been Dee Andros’ 100th birthday. UNLV is a good team, but this is a game in which Reser Stadium’s crowd can make a big difference. I think the Beavers will take care of business.
PARKER: UNLV is very good, a program on the rise. That will be a formidable challenge, but at it’s a big week for the program with Dee’s 100th birthday celebration. The Rebels are legitimate, but there will be a lot of extra motivation. The best way to pay tribute to Dee would be to go out and win against a tough opponent.
PREECE: UNLV is a tough team. (The Rebels) were 9-2 and really had it going last year before they lost their final three games. The home field will help the Beavers. With the big celebration for Dee, there will be bunch of notables in town, and a few of them — I’m thinking people like Bobby Grim, Skip Vanderbundt and Mike Riley — will be asked to speak to the players. I think it will be a fired-up session, and the Beavers will win.
WARREN: UNLV has a bunch of starters back and has picked up some key players in the transfer portal. (The Rebels) are going to be solid this season. I say they come into Reser and beat the Beavers.
WILSON: Odom was MWC Coach of the Year in his first season at the Rebels helm. He is a defensive guy whose offense will likely be quarterbacked by Sluka, a dual-threat transfer from Holy Cross who has run for 3,583 yards and 38 TDs in his career. I like the Beavers — who at this point should have established their offensive identity and built some momentum — to win this one at Reser.
EGGERS: This is a scary one for Oregon State, even in the friendly confines of Reser. Sometimes emotions can play too much of a factor. If the Beavers aren’t too overheated, they’ll win to improve to 6-1 on the season.
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At CALIFORNIA
2023 record: 6-7 overall, 4-5 in Pac-12
Head coach: Justin Wilcox, eighth season
Picked to finish 10th in the ACC
Notes: Wilcox is 36-43 overall and was 21-37 in Pac-12 play at Cal. … Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is a 6-5, 225-pound sophomore who threw for 1,708 yards and 14 TDs in nine games last season. … Jaydn Ott, a 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore who rushed for a Pac-12-best 1,315 yards and 12 TDs last season, is a preseason All-American and a first-team All-ACC pick.
CALLAN: This one is going to be tough in Berkeley. It’s too bad the Beavers have to play there in back-to-back seasons. I have a feeling it is going to one of those “Berkeley-weird” games. It could be a nail-biter that comes down a fourth-quarter play. I circle it as an “L” for Oregon State.
PARKER: I like the way the second half of the schedule shapes up. The month of September includes games against two Big Ten teams with a Power 4 feel to it. And now we get to Cal, going to the ACC. The Beavers have matched up pretty well against Cal in recent years. I expect that to continue. It’s going to be one of the most important games in terms of contributing to what the overall season felt like. Did you go to Cal and win that game? The Beavers have gone to Cal as underdogs in the past in many different eras and come away with a big win. I think they have a great chance to do that again this year.
PREECE: I have this one as a possible loss, but the Beavers have often won on the road against Cal during the Wilcox era (OSU is 2-2 in Berkeley and 2-1 at home vs Cal during that span). (The Bears) are historically very good defensively but not very good on offense. If the Beaver defense can score a touchdown, it will help. I feel like this will be an Oregon State victory.
WARREN: Cal has more players back from last year’s team than Oregon State does, and key returnees at quarterback and running back. At this point in the season, the big issue between Oregon State and Cal will be how each program responds to its new world. How is Cal adapting to the ACC, and how is Oregon State doing facing a predominating Mountain West schedule? I think the Bears will prevail at home in this one.
WILSON: The Beavers travel to Berkeley to play an ACC opponent — doesn’t that sound crazy? This game is a toss-up. Cal will be physical on defense. Ott is an excellent back and quarterback Fernando Mendoza looked good against the Beavers last year, who may fall short this time in a road game vs. a talented team.
EGGERS: California has a good quarterback, a great running back and a defensive-minded head coach who will make sure that side of the ball gets taken care of. This should be a competitive matchup, but the Beavers will lose one on the road.
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SAN JOSE STATE
2023 record: 7-6 overall, 6-2 in Mountain West
Head coach: Ken Niumatalolo, first year
Picked to finish 10th in the Mountain West
Notes: Niumatalolo comes to San Jose State from Navy, where he won 109 games and coached the Midshipmen to 10 bowl games in 15 seasons. He has two former Oregon State assistants on his staff — associate head coach/defensive coordinator Derrick Odum and receivers coach Kevin McGiven.
CALLAN: The Beavers beat a better San Jose State team relatively easily on the road last season. The Spartans have a coaching change and have to come north. I predict a dominant win for Oregon State.
PARKER: San Jose State is a program in transition. It would have been better to get them earlier in the season, but even when Brent Brennan was there, the game at Reser swings pretty favorably toward the Beavs.
PREECE: San Jose State was pretty good under Brent Brennan, but they have a new coaching staff. Unless Oregon State suffers major injuries, I don’t think (the Spartans) have a prayer to win this one at Reser.
WARREN: San Jose State is in a total rebuild, and (the Spartans) are changing their offense. Niumatalolo ran the triple-option at Army but they’re going to the run-and-shoot, and I’m not sure they have the quarterback to execute it. They have only have six returning starters, and it’s going to be a completely new learning curve. I think Oregon State wins this one.
WILSON: Coming off a bye week, Oregon State should cruise to the win..
EGGERS: Oregon State will be in rebound mode after a tough loss at Cal. The Beavers will pound the Spartans at Reser.
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At AIR FORCE
2023 record: 9-4 overall, 5-3 in Mountain West
Head coach: Troy Calhoun, 18th year
Picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West
Notes: Calhoun, a Roseburg native, is 130-82 at Air Force, including 8-5 in bowl games … the Falcons’ triple-option offense produced 27.8 points a game and compiled 189 first downs rushing but only 43 passing last season. … The top four rushers from last year’s team, including quarterback Zac Larrier, have departed.
CALLAN: Every time I watch Air Force play I am impressed with the discipline (the Falcons) play with. With their style of offense and playing at altitude, they are a tough out for anybody who goes in there. I have this as an Air Force win.
PARKER: This is as big a challenge as the Beavers will have on the road except perhaps Boise State. Air Force is well-coached, with a different kind of offense and a game played at altitude. But because of Trent Bray’s acumen on defense, the Beavers can play good defense against any style. I think the Beavers have a really good chance to win.
PREECE: This one is going to be tough. Air Force’s offense is unique and always a challenge to play against. If (the Falcons) get ahead, they can control the clock and it will be hard for Oregon State to get the ball. I trust the Beavers’ defense, but this is a game I’m afraid the Beavers lose.
WARREN: Air Force lost a lot of talent from a good team last year. They have a new quarterback in (junior) John Busha. They are a solid program under Troy Calhoun, but I’m picking a Beaver win in Colorado Springs.
WILSON: Air Force is a tough opponent for anybody. The Falcons will run the triple-option with veer principles, meaning offensive linemen are firing low and hard and establishing the fullback dive. Air Force will play hard, is disciplined and will use four downs to get 10 yards on the ground. My pick is the Beavers in a physically challenging game.
EGGERS: Air Force’s continuity with Calhoun at the helm provides stability. The triple-option offense is something the Beavers won’t see from another opponent all season. Altitude could play a factor in the second half. OSU’s best chance is to get ahead in the second half and force Air Force to go to the air, which will be difficult. I’m thinking the Falcons win this one 27-17.
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WASHINGTON STATE
2023 record: 5-7 overall, 2-7 in Pac-12
Head coach: Jake Dickert, third year
Picked to finish second in the Pac-2
Notes: The Cougars started 4-0 last season, then went 1-7 the rest of the way … with quarterback Cameron Ward now at Miami, the QB battle is expected to be between John Mather, Ward’s backup last season, and Zevi Eckhaus, a transfer from FCS school Bryant who was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last season.
CALLAN: The Beavers need to beat the Cougars, especially after last year, when they got off to a horrible start (a 35-14 third-quarter deficit) and made a great run (in a 38-35 loss at Pullman). This is the Pac-2 game so it has double meaning. I think Oregon State plays a 60-minute game and gets it done.
PARKER: The Pac-2 championship game is at Reser. If it were in Pullman, I would be more skeptical about the outcome, but at home I expect the Beavers to play well and defeat a team they are closely aligned with and going to battle with on behalf of maintaining the Pac-12 brand. It’s a huge game for both programs, but the Beavers at home have a significant advantage.
PREECE: I’m going to say the Beavers win in their last home game of the season. The Cougars have two candidates to be their new quarterback, and I’m not sure either one of them has much street cred. I don’t think their offense will be the same Washington State offense we’re used to. The Beavers will shut them down.
WARREN: Based on the history of the rivalry and Oregon State losing a close one last season in Pullman, I’m picking Oregon State. Both teams are similar on a lot of levels — the broken conference, the group of administrators who worked hard together to pick up the pieces. The Cougars lost a good quarterback (Ward) in the portal. Home-field advantage means a win for the Beavers.
WILSON: Every time I think the Cougars are slipping, they beat the Beavers — and I think they are slipping. The key for them is very much like that for the Beavers — what kind of quarterback play they are getting. This is a late-season game, and Washington State has struggled down the stretch the last few years. I’m counting on this one being in the win column for Oregon State — and maybe even a comfortable one at that.
EGGERS: It’s mind-blowing, but Washington State has won nine of the last 10 meetings with Oregon State. That should never happen. The Cougars will come to Corvallis fully expecting to win, no matter what the records are of the teams coming in. I think Trent Bray will have the Beavers jacked up to get some revenge in this Pac-2 showdown. Oregon State, Pac-2 champs!
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At BOISE STATE
2023 record: 8-6 overall, 6-2 in Mountain West
Head coach: Spencer Danielson, first year
Preseason pick to win the Mountain West
Notes: Danielson was interim head coach after the firing of Andy Avalos and took the Broncos to three straight wins and the Mountain West championship. … Danielson landed former USC quarterback Malachi Nelson, a 6-4, 195-pound redshirt freshman, and with running back Ashton Jeanty, a 5-9, 215-pound junior who rushed for 1,347 yards and 14 TDs in 2023, the Broncos’ running game should be potent.
CALLAN: If Boise State is having a great season — and I’m expecting (the Broncos) to be good — it will be a difficult task for Oregon State. I would love to see the Beavs take care of business on that blue turf in Boise, but I have this one listed as a Bronco win.
PARKER: The Broncos have been picked to win their conference for 17 consecutive seasons, and there is a reason. It is certainly difficult to project in August how a game in late November might go. With due respect to Air Force and the challenge that game poses, this is the toughest road game of the year. I still have nightmares about games on the blue turf in the past, but I think this Oregon State team potentially is going to have what it needs to win. If they are able to win this one, it may be the most significant matchup between the two programs that we’ve ever seen. An Oregon State win on the road on Thanksgiving weekend with a national audience would be one of the most important moments for Trent’s first year.
PREECE: I think Boise State will win. If the Beavers can put together an error-free game they have a chance, but (the Broncos) have a great running back and a strong defense, and they will be at home in their last game.
WARREN: Boise State returns a lot of starters — seven on offense and seven on defense — and some are picking them to be the one team from the Group of Five to get to the CFP. I’m not sure they’re going to be that good. I think the Broncos win, but it won’t be a blowout.
WILSON: This one is a 9 a.m. PST start, so it’s brunch in Boise on the day after Thanksgiving. Danielson was the defensive coordinator last season before Avalos was let go, and one of his most interesting hires is ex-NFL head coach Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator. He will have former five-star prep QB Nelson and one of the best running backs in the country in Jeanty. The Broncos also have the best punter/placekicker combination in the country. My guess is that Boise State will be favored and it will be an upset if the Beavers come away with a win.
EGGERS: It would be fun to predict a Beaver upset, but the odds are stacked against it. Road game against a good Boise State team in a stadium in which the Broncos are 39-10 over the past decade? It would be monumental, but my pick is Boise State by a 34-24 margin.
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