Tag: Oregon State

Oregon State hires Alabama co-OC JaMarcus Shephard as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon State hired Alabama assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator JaMarcus Shephard as its next head football coach, the school announced Friday morning.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the school, but it’s a five-year deal, per ESPN.

“I’m extremely excited to announce JaMarcus Shephard as the head coach of the Oregon State football program,” Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement. “His character and persona are top-notch and genuine, which will make all of Beaver Nation proud. His values align perfectly as an exceptional leader who fosters a sincere connection with his student athletes. He has coached at the highest level, with stops in the Pacific Northwest, and I cannot wait to see him on the recruiting trail and leading our football program to immediate success.”

Shephard, 42, will be a first-time head coach tasked with resurrecting a program that fell off the last two seasons under Trent Bray. After three consecutive winning seasons under Jonathan Smith, Bray went 5-14 with the Beavers — including an 0-7 start this season — before he was fired Oct. 12.

“I’m honored to lead the Oregon State University football program and to join a community that cares so deeply about its student-athletes,” Shephard said in a statement. “We will build a culture rooted in toughness, integrity, and relentless effort, and I’m excited to get to work with our players, staff, and supporters to write the next great chapter of Beaver football.”

It’s a return to the Pacific Northwest for Shephard, who has spent the last four years on Kalen DeBoer’s staff after joining him as Washington’s assistant head coach/pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2022 and following him to Alabama ahead of the 2024 season.

In his second season at Washington in 2023, he coached a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, who had a combined 2,799 yards and 22 touchdown catches as the Huskies made it to the national championship game before losing to Michigan. These two plus fellow receiver Jalen McMillan were all selected in the top three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Shephard’s coaching stops have also included Purdue pass game coordinator/receivers coach (2017), Washington State receivers coach (2016) and Western Kentucky receivers coach (2014-15).

“I am thrilled to welcome Coach Shephard to Oregon State University and Beaver Nation,” Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy said in a statement. “I strongly believe that his energy, enthusiasm and experience in winning programs will lead OSU football to success as we launch the new Pac-12 Conference and beyond.”

–Field Level Media

Report: Ed Orgeron linked to Arkansas, Oregon State jobs

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Former LSU head coach Ed Orgeron has been in contact with Arkansas about its open head coach position, On3 reported Friday, while he also has been linked to the vacant Oregon State job.

Orgeron, 64, reached a mutual agreement to leave the Tigers program following the 2021 season when the team went 6-6. It was two years removed from a perfect 15-0 season when LSU won the national championship.

Orgeron went 51-20 in six seasons at LSU and is 67-47 in 10 seasons after also serving as the head coach at Ole Miss (2005-07) and the interim head coach at Southern California (2013).

Arkansas is looking to replace Sam Pittman, who was fired in September after the Razorbacks fell 56-13 at home to Notre Dame. Oregon State fired head coach Trent Bray after the Beavers opened the season with an 0-7 record.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Taz Reddicks (3) runs the ball after a catch in overtime against the Houston Cougars at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Oregon State, eager to end worst start since ’91, faces Wake Forest

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Wake Forest has found its way to good results, and now Oregon State hopes it can experience some of that as the teams clash Saturday in Corvallis, Ore.

“We’ve done a good job every week of constantly getting better,” Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert said.

Wake Forest (3-2) played its first road game of the season last week and pulled off a 30-23 victory at Virginia Tech. This will be a different challenge, with the Demon Deacons planning to arrive in Oregon on Thursday afternoon in advance of the nonconference game.

“I’m very thankful for this game just to get familiar with taking a team across the country,” Dickert said. “We’re going to have to do it quite often in this league (the Atlantic Coast Conference).”

The Beavers (0-6), who are beginning a stretch of four consecutive home games, are trying to find traction amid their worst start to a season since 1991.

“It’s disappointing,” Oregon State coach Trent Bray said. “It’s not where we thought we’d be.”

There is familiarity between the teams.

Dickert came to Wake Forest last December from Washington State, where he had been the head coach. The Cougars lost to Oregon State last November 41-38 in Corvallis, Ore. — and the Beavers haven’t won a game since then.

“It will be rocking in there,” Dickert said. “It’s going to be a tough, scrappy football team that is going to be fighting.”

Bray said of Dickert, “His teams are well-coached. They play physical. They play hard, a lot like his Washington State teams.”

Oregon State’s quarterback is Maalik Murphy, a transfer from Duke. In his last game with the Blue Devils in November 2024, he threw a game-winning 39-yard touchdown pass on the final play against Wake Forest. He ended that contest 25 of 34 for 235 yards with the one touchdown and one interception.

This year, Murphy has thrown for more than 200 yards five times, including a 358-yard effort last week in a 27-23 loss at Appalachian State.

Oregon State has allowed at least 27 points in every game this season, though the Beavers have been close in their past two games. They fell 27-24 in overtime to Houston two weeks ago.

Bray fired special teams coordinator Jamie Christian on Sunday. Robb Akey, special assistant to the head coach, will oversee special teams.

Bray said running back Anthony Hankerson has been dealing with an ankle injury.

Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne exited the Virginia Tech game with an injury, so that could leave the Demon Deacons with questions on offense. Without an injury report required for a nonleague game, Dickert indicated there wouldn’t be an update until game day.

This will be the first meeting between the teams, and the first time the Demon Deacons will play in the state of Oregon. The matchup was added to the schedule last year after Wake Forest canceled a scheduled return game at Ole Miss.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers place kicker Cameron Smith (37) attempts a game winning field goal but is blocked by the Houston Cougars at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Oregon State AD promises ‘immediate changes’ due to 0-6 start

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Oregon State’s first 0-6 start since 1991 could lead to immediate changes, athletic director Scott Barnes said on Sunday.

In fact, special team coordinator Jamie Christian was fired on Sunday, the same day Barnes said he and coach Trent Bray are “reviewing every aspect of the program and committed to making immediate changes.”

Oregon State is 5-13 since Bray was promoted to head coach after Jonathan Smith’s departure to Michigan State in 2023.

In the letter addressed to Beaver Nation, Barnes said, “I understand and share your disappointment with how our football season has started. My expectations for our program are high, and right now, we are not meeting them.”

Barnes told fans that their feedback is important and “it aligns with our own concerns and frustration.”

The letter comes one day after the Beavers fell behind 17-0 in the first quarter en route to losing 27-23 at Appalachian State. Special teams were a big problem for the second straight week as Oregon State lost a fumble on a kickoff return.

The previous contest, Oregon State had two field goals blocked and blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead while falling 27-24 to visiting Houston in overtime.

This is the worst slide since the Beavers dropped their first 10 games in 1991.

However, Barnes doesn’t want to see the current skid approach the one of 34 years ago.

“With half of the regular season still ahead, there remains an opportunity to continue improving in every area,” Barnes said.

In Smith’s final season, Oregon State went 8-5 and was ranked in the Top 25 each week of the season. Smith departed before the Beavers were walloped 40-8 by Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl. Kefense Hynson served as interim coach for the bowl game.

Oregon State visits Wake Forest (3-2) on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) is sacked by Houston Cougars linebacker Brandon Mack II (4) during the second quarter at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images

Houston overtakes Oregon State for OT win, moves to 4-0

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Ethan Sanchez booted a 24-yard field goal in overtime and Houston improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2016 after rallying for a 27-24 victory over Oregon State in nonconference play on Friday night at Corvallis, Ore.

Conner Weigman completed 20 of 36 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception and also rushed for a score as Houston overcame a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit.

Oregon State never trailed until Sanchez’s kick went through the uprights as it fell to 0-5 for the first time since 1996.

Amare Thomas had six catches for 104 yards, Tanner Koziol caught six passes for 86 yards and a score and Stephon Johnson caught a touchdown pass for the Cougars.

Cornell Hatcher Jr. rushed for 93 yards and one touchdown for Oregon State. Maalik Murphy connected on 20 of 33 passes for 201 yards and tossed a touchdown pass to Marquis Crosby. Jake Reichle added a rushing score, and Trent Walker caught seven passes for 103 yards.

The Beavers had the opening possession of overtime and came up empty when Hatcher was stuffed on fourth-and-1 from the Houston 16-yard line.

The Cougars then set up Sanchez for the easy field goal, his second of the night.

The Beavers had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Cameron Smith’s 46-yard field-goal attempt was blocked by Marc Stampley II.

Houston went three-and-out on each of its first four second-half possessions before igniting on a drive that began with 8:17 left in the game. Weigman opened the seven-play, 76-yard drive with a 13-yard completion to Thomas for the Cougars’ initial first down of the half.

A short time later, Weigman tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Johnson to bring Houston within 24-17 with 5:59 remaining.

When the Cougars next had the ball, they needed just four plays and 51 seconds as Koziol caught a pass at the Oregon State 35 while shedding a defender and finished off a 50-yard scoring play to tie the score.

The Beavers held a 17-10 lead after Caleb Ojeda kicked a 31-yard field goal with 5:31 left in the third quarter.

Hatcher raced 18 yards for a 14-point lead with 12:34 remaining in the game.

The Beavers’ first score came after Trey Glasper intercepted Weigman and returned it 25 yards to the Cougars’ 7. Two plays later, Reichle plunged in from the 1.

Early in the second quarter, Murphy threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Crosby to make it 14-0.

Houston rebounded on Sanchez’s 25-yard field goal and Weigman’s 1-yard scoring run before halftime.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars running back Dean Connors (44) runs with the ball during the third quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Houston, facing winless Oregon State, eyes first 4-0 start in 9 years

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Houston looks to start 4-0 for the first time since 2016 when it battles winless Oregon State in nonconference play on Friday night in Corvallis, Ore.

The Cougars have outscored their first three foes 98-29 and have yet to commit a turnover.

Second-year coach Willie Fritz emphasizes taking care of the ball at every opportunity.

“We stress it every day in practice, making sure we have proper ball security in everything we do,” Fritz said Monday. “We also really stress getting the ball out (on defense).”

Houston has forced six turnovers — five on interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman has passed for 569 yards and four touchdowns while adding three scores on the ground.

Weigman is in his first season at Houston after spending three seasons at Texas A&M. He passed for a season-best 222 yards in a 36-20 victory over visiting Colorado on Sept. 12.

The Cougars had a bye last weekend, and Fritz didn’t need to be reminded how things went following bye weeks last season. Houston was routed 42-14 at Kansas after a break in October and 27-3 at Arizona after a week off in November.

“Last year we had two bad performances after bye weeks,” Fritz said. “… You want to be able to give people some time off. It was good to have the time off, but we wanted to be sure we put in the work during the bye week.”

Oregon State is 0-4 for the first time since 2011 and is looking to avoid its first 0-5 start since 1996.

The Beavers have been outscored 156-63 this season and lost their past two games by 31 points (at Texas Tech) and 34 points (at Oregon).

The Beavers were outgained 585-147 in a 41-7 loss to the No. 6 Ducks last week, but Oregon State coach Trent Bray is confident his squad will bounce back.

“There’s only one (goal) — that’s winning,” Bray said Monday. “That’s all there is to this game. As competitors, there are no moral victories in my mind.”

Beavers quarterback Maalik Murphy has passed for 964 yards and six touchdowns while being intercepted five times.

Bray said that safety Tyrice Ivy Jr. would miss the rest of the season due to an undisclosed injury sustained in the season-opening loss to Cal.

The matchup is the first for the two schools since Houston recorded a 19-16 win over the Beavers in 1970 at the famed Astrodome. The Cougars have won two of the three previous all-time meetings.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dakorien Moore (1) dives to score a touchdown defended by Oregon State Beavers defensive back Jalil Tucker (22) during the first quarter of the game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

No. 6 Oregon crushes rival Oregon State ahead of Penn State showdown

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Sixth-ranked Oregon tuned up for its massive Big Ten showdown at Penn State next weekend with a 41-7 romp over in-state rival Oregon State on Saturday afternoon in Eugene, Ore.

The Ducks (4-0) racked up 585 yards of total offense. Quarterback Dante Moore completed 21 of 31 passes for 305 yards with four touchdowns, and he along with six running backs helped the Ducks run for 280 yards.

Jayden Limar, elevated to the starter with Noah Whittington missing a second straight week with an unspecified injury, ran the ball 12 times for 70 yards to lead the ground game. Moore added 53 rushing yards.

Jordon Davison’s 3-yard touchdown run with 21 seconds left in the first half gave Oregon a 21-7 lead going into halftime.

Moore spread the ball around to eight different pass catchers, four of which caught touchdowns. The longest of those was a 49-yard completion to Gary Bryant Jr. on the second play of the fourth quarter, a pass zipped down the middle to Bryant that he caught in stride.

Oregon State tied the score at 7 late in the first quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by Anthony Hankerson. With the extra point, the Ducks were in a tie game for the first time all season.

But Oregon took the lead for good with 5:40 to play in the second quarter, capping off a 92-yard touchdown drive with Moore’s 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kenyon Sadiq.

Oregon State (0-4) punted eight times and lost a fumble. Quarterback Maalik Murphy went 5 of 18 for 68 yards and the Beavers were held to 147 total yards on the afternoon.

Hankerson had 38 rushing yards to lead the Beavers.

Oregon was stopped on downs once, punted twice, and scored on every other drive of the game. The Ducks have won three straight in the series between the programs now in different conferences (Oregon State is in the Pac-12).

Oregon has won 15 of the last 18 meetings in a rivalry that is the second-most played between two in-state rivals in the history of college football.

–Field Level Media

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning calls for a timeout as the Oregon Ducks host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 6, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

No. 6 Oregon chases another win in rivalry vs. Oregon State

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Despite a 34-14 road win over Northwestern last Saturday, Oregon fell two spots in the AP Top 25 this week.

But the sixth-ranked Ducks (3-0) will look to keep rolling when they host in-state rival Oregon State (0-3) on Saturday in Eugene.

The two longtime former Pac-10 and Pac-12 rivals have maintained their home-and-home rivalry even though the Ducks moved from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten and the Beavers were one of two programs (Washington State is the other) to remain in the Pac-12 after it disbanded in 2024.

Oregon has won 14 of the last 17 meetings against Oregon State and two straight in a series that dates to 1894. The Ducks lead the series 68-51 with 10 ties.

Oregon rolled to a 49-14 win at Oregon State in September 2024.

The Ducks have been impressive on both sides of the ball this season despite playing without their most experienced running back, Noah Whittington, last week at Northwestern. The speedy Whittington was dressed but stood on the sideline the entire game because of an undisclosed injury, and it was unclear Monday if he’d be able to play against Oregon State and beyond.

“We will see. If he’s ready, we’ll have him out there (against Oregon State),” Ducks coach Dan Lanning said, per SINow.com. “Ultimately I think we have a good back unit. That is something we’ve said is a strength. This is why we prepare the way we prepare, because there are a lot of guys that can be used. We’ve got a lot of guys that can play winning football. That is certainly a position that’s shown up.”

The Ducks displayed their depth at the position against Northwestern, with one touchdown run apiece for running backs Jayden Limar, Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill Jr.

Whittington and Limar scored touchdowns against Oregon State in last season’s meeting. Against Northwestern last Saturday, Oregon’s defense had two interceptions.

Winless Oregon State has had only one fairly close game, a 36-27 home loss to Fresno State in Week 2. Beavers quarterback Maalik Murphy, a transfer from Duke, has six touchdown passes this season, one fewer than the Beavers’ total TD passes for all of last season.

The Beavers have gone five straight games with a 100-yard receiver, and 14 players have caught at least one pass this season, three more than all of 2024.

Murphy’s 896 passing yards are the most by a Beavers quarterback over the first three games of a season since Sean Mannion’s 903 in 2014.

Beavers coach Trent Bray, a former Oregon State player, has had to answer questions about being on the hot seat.

“We’ve got good players,” Bray told OregonLive.com. “I feel confident about our players and what they can do. And I feel confident in our coaches to get them ready to play and go out there and execute. That’s really what it’s going to be about, our guys playing fast and executing the scheme and what we’re trying to do.”

–Field Level Media

Texas Tech's Behren Morton (left) talks to Jacob Rodriguez prior to a non-conference football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Behren Morton’s big day spurs No. 21 Texas Tech’s blowout of Oregon State

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A lengthy lightning delay couldn’t hinder the high-powered offensive attack of No. 21 Texas Tech and Behren Morton as the Red Raiders stumped struggling Oregon State 45-14 Saturday afternoon in Lubbock, Texas.

Morton had a career day, finishing with a career-high 464 yards in three quarters. He added four touchdown passes and completed 23 of his 35 attempts with an interception as the only blemish.

Coy Eakin and Terrance Carter Jr. torched the Beavers (0-3) secondary, with Eakin finishing with six catches for 139 yards and Carter Jr. hauling in six as well for 102 yards. They had a touchdown apiece.

After a nearly two-and-a-half hour lightning delay that paused the game after six plays, Morton came out firing for the Red Raiders (3-0) on the third play back with a perfectly thrown ball in the corner of the end zone to Eakin for 38 yards.

Morton followed it up with another long score, this time 61-yards to Caleb Douglas to make it 14-0 with 6:27 left in the first. The two teams then traded interceptions, and Texas Tech turned its short field into a J’Koby Williams 30-yard screen pass touchdown to make it 21-0.

The Red Raiders ended their first-half scoring with a seven-play, 80-yard drive that finished with Williams punching it in from 3 yards out.

Williams had a productive day overall with 48 yards on the ground and 116 through the air.

It was quite the opposite for Oregon State, who suffered again from self-inflicted wounds. Maalik Murphy threw two interceptions in Texas Tech territory, and got sacked with no timeouts left to end the first half.

Earlier in the half, the Beavers missed a 47-yard field goal.

Murphy completed 25 of 46 passes for 282 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown. David Wells Jr. had six catches for 103 yards.

The Beavers were held to just seven rushing yards

Morton finished his day by leading two more scoring drives for the Red Raiders; a 23-yard touchdown to Carter and a 21-yard field goal by Upton Bellenfant to push it to 38-0 by the end of the third.

Cameron Dickey scored a 4-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 45-0 with 10:43 left.

The Beavers got on the board late in the fourth by way of two Murphy touchdown passes; a 6-yarder to Bryce Caufield and a 26-yarder to Karson Boschma.

— Field Level Media

Texas Tech's Coy Eakin celebrates his touchdown catch with Behren Morton (2) against Arkansas-Pine Bluff during a non-conference football game, Saturday, August 30, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Behren Morton, No. 21 Texas Tech look to keep rolling vs. Oregon St.

Posted on | by Field Level Media

High-flying No. 21 Texas Tech will welcome another test on the eve of Big 12 play when Oregon State comes to Lubbock, Texas on Saturday.

The Red Raiders (2-0) moved up three spots in the AP Poll this past week after a 62-14 thrashing of Kent State. Texas Tech played well on both sides of the ball, putting up 601 yards and holding the Golden Flashes to just 229.

There was an incident after the game, however, as starting cornerback Amier Boyd was arrested Sunday night and charged with reckless driving. Boyd, who had an interception in the Red Raiders’ first game of the year, was released Monday morning and could face potential punishments of a fine of up to $200, up to 30 days in jail or both.

After starting the last game, Boyd has since been moved to a backup on the official depth chart. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said that Boyd’s situation will be handled internally.

Boyd’s status for Saturday may be up in the air, but the Red Raiders are still a force to be reckoned with, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Having put up at least 60 points in each of its first two games, Texas Tech is currently third in the nation in total offense (604.5 yards per game). The Red Raiders are led at quarterback by experienced starter Behren Morton, who has thrown for 459 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

There were some questions heading into the year if the Red Raiders could replicate the production of longtime running back Tahj Brooks, who broke the Texas Tech’s all-time rushing record, which had stood for 28 years, last season.

So far, the Red Raiders’ three-headed monster at running back has been productive. Adam Hill, J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey all have put up at least 100 yards across the first two contests, totaling 415 yards and four touchdowns among them.

“Guys that I think have really stepped up, I’ve been proud of all the running backs,” McGuire said Monday. “Anytime you’re replacing the all-time leading rusher, and you’ve had a group in there that has played (as well as) the way they’ve played, I’ve been proud of them.”

While Texas Tech has looked unstoppable through the first two weeks, Oregon State (0-2) has lived at the opposite end of that spectrum.

The Beavers are coming off a disappointing 36-27 loss to Fresno State. Oregon State played well enough to win, outplaying the Bulldogs in the box score.

Oregon State finished with 210 more yards, nine more third-down conversions and nearly 15 more minutes of possession. Costly turnovers and special teams mistakes proved to be the team’s undoing.

Starting quarterback Maalik Murphy has aired it out to start the year with 615 passing yards, good for 14th in the country, but has a 4-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

This will be the Beavers’ first road game of the season. They will look to change their recent road fortunes, entering this week having lost seven of their last 10 games away from home.

“They’re an extremely talented team, and they’ve got talent and speed all over, so it’s going to be just a challenge from that standpoint,” Beavers coach Trent Bray said on Monday.

This will be just the second time these two teams have played and the first since 1959, a 15-14 Texas Tech win.

–Field Level Media