Seeking its first win of the season, Oregon State football has arrived at a critical juncture.
Win vs. Houston (3-0), and the Beavers (0-4) will feel like they’re back on track with a more manageable schedule in front of them. Lose again and fall to 0-5, and the questions and outside noise will only get bigger.
Trent Bray and company face their most pressure-packed game yet as the Cougars come to Corvallis. Here is a full preview:
Oregon State (0-4) vs Houston (3-0)
When: Friday, Sept. 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. PT
Where: Reser Stadium, Corvallis
TV channel: ESPN
Watch: You can watch this game live for free with Fubo (free trial), or with DirecTV (free trial).
Stream: DirecTV (free trial) or Fubo (promotional offers) or Sling (college football season pass is just $199). Streaming broadcasts for this game will be available on these streaming services locally in Oregon and Washington, but may not be available outside of the Pacific Northwest, depending on your location.
Odds: Houston by 13.5; over/under 47.5 (Action Network)
CONTAIN THE QB
Dual-threat quarterback Conner Weigman poses a unique challenge for the Oregon State defense, and one it needs to study the tape of the Oregon game in order to prepare for.
Despite solid pressure by the Beavers, Dante Moore broke contain on multiple occasions and broke off runs for first downs, including a long of 28. That can’t happen nearly as often against Weigman, who is a more willing and capable runner. Weigman might even prefer tucking it and running to sitting back in the pocket.
Linebackers like Dexter Foster will need to keep a constant eye on him. And if the OSU defense is able to build on its moments of improvement against the Ducks, its pass rushers will need to keep Weigman contained.
LAY IT ALL ON THE LINE
The Oregon State offense can no longer afford to be meticulous or conservative in its play-calling. It’s time to unleash every wrinkle, trick play and unique approach.
The Beavers have to run the ball successfully in order to find the balance they seek, but if it isn’t working out, it can’t look like the Oregon game where they force Anthony Hankerson to run face-first into a wall expecting different results. At that point, if this offensive line truly can’t get the push it needs in the run game, it’s time to air it out and let Maalik Murphy showcase why you brought him here.
There’s an argument to be made for just doing that from the jump. Were it not for the cascade of special teams blunders against Fresno State, the OSU offense had a tremendous performance in game two of the season. It’s no coincidence that Murphy threw the ball 48 times in that game to 10 different receivers. It might just be the answer.
SIGNIFICANT STAKES
Friday’s atmosphere could get uneasy, especially if the Beavers fall behind early to a team they are nearly two-touchdown underdogs to at home. The students are back and likely to pack their portion of the stands at Reser Stadium, but tickets elsewhere are going for cheap and attendance isn’t expected to be great with the team sitting at 0-4 and enthusiasm dwindling.
Combine that environment with the team losing once again, and the winds in Corvallis might shift hard in the direction of significant change. Could Trent Bray lose his job if the Beavers drop another one? Could one or more of his coordinators face the axe instead?
It’s all in play late Friday night. The Beavers are back on national TV with a chance to make good on the belief they are better than their record, and to kick-start a turnaround. Rarely is the term “must-win” actually applicable and not just an exaggeration of circumstances, but this is certainly a must-win for Bray and everyone involved.
THEY SAID IT
“They’ve been great as far as how they show up to work, the way they show up to meetings. No one is pouting, hanging their head or anything like that. I’m proud of the work they’re doing. We understand we’ve done some things self destruction-wise that have led to our situation. We’ve got to … continue to improve on that and really build off the first half against Oregon.” —OSU head coach Trent Bray
SERIES HISTORY
Houston leads the all-time series, 2-1. The last meeting was in 1970, a 19-16 win for the Cougars at home.
PREDICTION
Houston 26, Oregon State 19