CORVALLIS, Ore. — This upcoming weekend is a battle between two states in college football — Idaho and Oregon. With a mere 30 minutes separating the games, the University of Oregon faces the University of Idaho, and Oregon State plays Idaho State. With both Oregon teams hosting their Idaho opponent, the game-day vibe will be prominent in Oregon this weekend.
For the Beavers, this game marks a new era, playing their first season since the collapse of the Pac-12 and exodus of its head coach and numerous players in the offseason (the Oregonian reported the Beavers lost about a quarter of the roster to the transfer portal). Although their schedule is filled with Mountain West opponents, Oregon State is in unknown territory. For the Beavers, that unknown territory begins against the Bengals on Saturday.
SATURDAY'S GAME
Oregon State vs. Idaho State
- Time and TV: 3:30 p.m., CW
Oregon State and Idaho State have only played each other twice, in 2007 and 2016, so the teams don’t really have a storied history. The Beavers dominated both of these games, winning 61-10 in 2007 and 37-7 in 2016. Additionally, both games were played in Corvallis, so this third matchup will continue that tradition.
Given last year's records, this year's rosters, and what each team brings to the table, Oregon State should get its first win of the season against the Bengals.
Idaho State is coming off a 3-8 record, besting only Northern Colorado, Eastern Washington and Portland State in the 2023 season. When the Pac-12 was a fully fledged conference, the Bengals did not have a great track record. In fact, quite the opposite, with an 0-9 record against Pac-12 opponents.
The Beavers are coming off a solid 8-5 season despite all of the question marks surrounding the future of the program. Oregon State lost a lot of players to the transfer portal, so one of the unknowns this season will how the newcomers and returning players will adapt to those losses.
Oregon State head coach Trent Bray credits the Bengals for having a solid offense and a unique defensive system. But there are some unknowns for Idaho State, too. The Bengals are still deciding who their starting quarterback will be this season. And they're not deciding between just two players for the starting spot — they're choosing between four.
Oregon State has officially decided on its starting quarterback, Gevani McCoy. McCoy is a transfer from Idaho. Last season, in 12 games, he passed for 2,910 yards, 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while completing 64.7% of his passes. He also rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
With a new coach at the helm, a new schedule and many questions regarding Oregon State's status within the college football national rankings this season, the Beavers are in unknown territory.
However, one known thing is the past performances between these two teams meeting at Reser Stadium and the talent Oregon State heralds on its roster. In Week 1, the Beavers should be ready for anything thrown their way and start their season with a win.
Anna Miller is a Portland native and current student at the University of Michigan, double majoring in communications and sociology. Jared Cowley of KGW contributed to this report. Oregon Sports News is a KGW News partner.
