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Following a bye week that provided recovery after a 5-2 start, the Oregon State Beavers return to action this week. Head coach JaMarcus Shephard's squad will travel south to face the 4-3 Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday at 8 PM at Valley Children's Stadium. This matchup marks the first time the two programs meet as fellow Pac-12 Conference members.
During his weekly media session, Shephard pointed out areas needing refinement, especially after reviewing film from the team's recent victory over Washington State. "Offensively, we want to attack the drops—we'd been better over the previous few weeks than we were against Washington State. That also speaks to third-down conversions and everything like that," Shephard said. "And on defense, it's making sure we have an answer to keep the quarterback from getting out of the pocket. Against the Cougars, I actually felt like we had an answer; we just didn't execute it to the level we needed to. I think when you watch the Boise State vs. Washington State game, Boise did a really good job making sure the quarterback stayed in the pocket. He snuck out a couple times, but a couple times is a lot better than what we experienced against that team."
Defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre shared a similar assessment of his unit's progress since September. "I think against the run, we've been good against running backs running the football. Last game we got hurt by the quarterback scrambling, but if you take that out, they really didn't have very much rushing," MacIntyre said.
Shephard also offered praise for this week's opponent, highlighting quarterback Jayden Mandal, linebacker K'vion Thunderbird, defensive back Kiontre Harris, and defensive end Dylan Hampsten as players who could cause problems. "Coach Entz has done a really good job of helping these guys understand that those things lead to winning," Shephard said of the Bulldogs' culture under head coach Matt Entz.
MacIntyre delved into the challenges posed by Fresno State's receiving corps, noting that their depth is another reason the Beaver defense must improve containment of mobile quarterbacks. "Their quarterback reads things well, but they've also got some excellent receivers. Number five Josiah Freeman, he's big and athletic. Then Jahlil McClain, who I think came from Louisville, he's a really excellent player. And Ezekiel Avit, they use him a lot of different ways. I think all three of those receivers are explosive, powerful. So they just get the ball to them quickly a lot of times, and those guys are able to really run after the catch," MacIntyre said.
Offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen, who served as an assistant at Fresno State in 2020 and 2021, reflected on how his time there shaped his respect for the program. "Knowing that place really well... having a really good relationship with Pat Hill, and obviously I was there two years with [Kalen] DeBoer. So just knowing the culture of that program, it's built on toughness and hard work; they are always gonna get the under-recruited guy who plays to a higher ceiling," Dahlen remarked. "You know the environment there is a college football environment, I think that's my favorite thing about the place. This is why you play college football."
Even though the Beavers enter the weekend on a two-game losing streak, Dahlen expects a raucous crowd supporting the Bulldogs—and he expects his team to be ready for it. "We'll be ready for the crowd noise, and we'll be ready for the walk past the ropes and down the hill; the guys will be ready for it. Halloween when you're in orange and black, you can't beat it, man."
Key Analysis
The Beavers' coaches clearly respect Fresno State's player development and tough-minded culture, which could pose a stiff test for an Oregon State team looking to rebound from consecutive losses. Containing the Bulldogs' mobile quarterback and explosive receivers will be critical, especially in a hostile environment. The Halloween setting adds a unique atmosphere, and Oregon State's ability to handle crowd noise and execute under pressure may determine the outcome.