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The 2024 college football season will be one of the most unusual ones in Oregon State history because the Beavers are orphans along with Washington State with the implosion of the Pac-12 Conference.

What to expect from OSU this year as an independent?

Expert Prediction: Under 7.5 wins as the Beavers finish 7-5

To reach Playoff: +2500
Regular-season win total: 7.5
Odds to Win National Title: +50000

Last Season

Oregon State finished 8-5 last year after losing 40-8 to Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl, but many key OSU guys didn’t play, and the team was in transition on the coaching staff. Notre Dame posted a 14-0 lead heading into halftime. The Irish scored touchdowns in each of the first two quarters, while Oregon State finished with 103 yards of total offense. OSU played in its 20th all-time bowl game, and third straight dating back to 2021. It’s the longest such postseason streak for the Beavers since playing in four straight bowl games from 2006 to 2009. They are now 12-8 all-time in bowls.

But it’s a new day in Corvallis as Oregon State (and Wazzu) plays as an independent this year with many games against Mountain West foes as there’s talk OSU and WSU could merge with that league in a couple of years as there’s really nowhere else for the school to go.

Jonathan Smith

Highly respected coach Smith, an alum, would have stayed at Oregon State if not for the lack of a conference home but opted to leave for Michigan State. During his six-year tenure, Smith was 34-35. When Smith was hired in 2018, it was trumpeted as the return of a former Beavers star quarterback and a successful offensive coordinator at Boise State and Washington. Smith rebuilt a program considered to be the worst in the Power Five, as he took Oregon State to a bowl game in 2021, the program’s first in eight years. His signature season in Corvallis was 2022, when OSU won 10 games for only the third time in school history.

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Oregon State Beavers Tranfers

A wave of players opted to transfer out after Smith left, led by starting QB DJ Uiagalelei and running back Damien Martinez. Uiagalelei spent one season at Oregon State after transferring in from Clemson and enjoyed his most prolific collegiate campaign yet, setting career highs with 2,638 yards passing and a 145.0 passer rating. Uiagalelei’s 8.4 yards per pass attempt hit a personal record, and he was responsible for 27 total touchdowns. Martinez had 355 carries for 2,167 yards and 16 touchdowns in the last two seasons for the Beavers; he averaged 6.1 yards per carry. The 6-0, 232-pound Martinez was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection and a Doak Walker Award semifinalist at OSU.

Defensive of the Beavers

So it’s likely going to be a rebuilding year under new coach Bray as he was promoted from defensive coordinator. The Beavers’ 2023 defense was stout, allowing 340 yards and 21.3 points per game under his tutelage, both of which ranked among the Pac-12’s leaders. The Beavers gave up 104 yards per game on the ground, good for 15th nationally, and the team’s scoring defense was less than 3 points per game shy of the top-20. Oregon State finished the 2023 regular season second in the Pac-12 in total sacks (36), third in tackles for loss (72) and interceptions (12) and fourth in the fewest opponent plays of 10 or more yards.

The 2024 season will mark Bray’s 10th as an Oregon State coach; he came to Corvallis for a three-year stint from 2012-14 before returning in 2018. Former Oregon State QB Ryan Gunderson handled the UCLA passers last year, and now he’s the new offensive coordinator.

Oregon State Quarterback

Not clear yet who will be the starting QB between Ben Gulbranson, who started that bowl loss to the Irish, or Idaho transfer Gevani McCoy and possibly Missouri transfer Gabarri Johnson. Gulbranson has appeared in 13 career games for the Beavers, including nine starts with a 7-2 record in those contests.

“I’d say my experience is definitely an asset,” Gulbranson noted at Beavers’ fall camp. “Going into my fifth season now. Just my knowledge of the game and stuff I’ve seen, I think that’s pretty valuable.”

Offensive of the Beavers

The top two running backs should be Colorado transfer and returning Jam Griffin – who ran for 488 yards and four scores two years ago for the Beavers. Nearly every top receiver is gone from 2023. Darrius Clemons was a great get from Michigan as a transfer, and now he’ll be the main man on the outside. Offensive lineman Van Wells is one of 40 players on the preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, which is given annually to the nation’s top center. Wells, after two seasons at Colorado. He played in 20 games for the Buffaloes, making 11 starts, and saw action in more than 1,000 snaps during his tenure in Boulder. He was graded out at 80.7 in pass blocking as a sophomore per PFF.

Fellow offensive lineman Joshua Gray was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy, which is given annually to the nation’s standout interior lineman. Gray has played in and started 44 career games for the Beavers since arriving to Corvallis prior to the 2019 season. Those 44 starts are just six shies of equaling the program record. He is a three-time all-conference second-team selection.

Oregon State opens the season at home vs. FCS school Idaho State. The Civil War rivalry with Oregon will continue, even though the two aren’t conference foes any longer. The Beavers host the Ducks on Sept. 14 in their biggest game of the year.