{"id":106344,"date":"2022-10-24T07:56:31","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T07:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/oregon-state-cant-crack-top-25-beavers-are-remarkably-healthy-10-wins-possible-8-takeaways-from-a-42-9-win-over-colorado\/"},"modified":"2022-10-24T07:56:31","modified_gmt":"2022-10-24T07:56:31","slug":"oregon-state-cant-crack-top-25-beavers-are-remarkably-healthy-10-wins-possible-8-takeaways-from-a-42-9-win-over-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/oregon-state-cant-crack-top-25-beavers-are-remarkably-healthy-10-wins-possible-8-takeaways-from-a-42-9-win-over-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"Oregon State can’t crack top 25, Beavers are remarkably healthy, 10 wins possible: 8 takeaways from a 42-9 win over Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Oregon State Beavers defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 42-9 Saturday night at Reser Stadium. Here are eight takeaways from the win, which made the Beavers bowl eligible with four games remaining:<\/p>\n

1. The big picture heading into November<\/b><\/p>\n

Only in 2013 (Oct. 19) and 2012 (Oct. 20) have the Beavers been bowl eligible earlier in program history. With four regular season games left, a long shot possibility of the Pac-12 championship game (more on that below) and a bowl game, OSU surely will surpass its 7-6 record from 2013 and a chance it surpasses its 9-4 record in 2012. Oregon State has two seasons of 10 or more wins in school history: 2000 and 2006.<\/p>\n

Will this be the third? You can’t say it’s impossible. California and Arizona State are winnable games. Washington is challenging, but the Huskies are hardly unbeatable. Oregon is currently the best team in the Pac-12, but the Beavers play the Ducks at Reser Stadium, where OSU is a difficult out. Then there’s a bowl game. A record of 8-5 seems like the lowest bar. At this stage, that finish might be called a disappointment. With a break and better play at quarterback, Oregon State can get to 10 wins.<\/p>\n

2. Path to Pac-12 championship game<\/b><\/p>\n

This is not a prediction, but the only way OSU can get to Las Vegas is to win out. The Beavers still need plenty of help, as their two losses came to contenders USC and Utah. As the standings are currently constructed, Oregon State is tied for fifth, trailing first-place Oregon (4-0), plus USC (4-1), UCLA (3-1) and Utah (3-1).<\/p>\n

How does a 7-2 Oregon State play in the championship game? For starters, the Beavers need an upset or two, because it’s not enough for teams ahead of them to knock each other off. OSU won’t win many tiebreakers. Unfortunately, the list of possible upsets isn’t long. USC has a cakewalk remaining (Arizona, California, Colorado, UCLA). Utah could tumble, as it has Washington State and Oregon on the road, but also plays Arizona and Stanford at home, and Colorado in Boulder. Stanford or Arizona State over UCLA? Perhaps. Oregon has perhaps the toughest remaining schedule, finishing with Washington, Utah and OSU. But two of those three will be played at Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks have a 23-game winning streak.<\/p>\n

Bottom line: Oregon State remains in good shape for one of the conference’s top bowl games. The Beavers are likely to be watching the Pac-12 championship game.<\/p>\n

Ken Goe: After Oregon State grinds down Colorado, let’s pause to appreciate what Jonathan Smith has built<\/p>\n

Bowl eligibility just the start for hungry Oregon State Beavers, who look to ‘big November’ after crushing Colorado<\/p>\n

3. Should OSU be in the top 25?<\/b><\/p>\n

Answer: maybe. But it’s not the slam dunk some fans think it should be. The Beavers have some unfortunate circumstances. The wins over Boise State and Fresno State should resonate. OSU played both when those teams were intact, particularly Fresno State with Jake Haener. Boise State has revived itself, but probably not to a level that would attract notice from national voters. Fresno State isn’t the same team without Haener. Oregon State’s performance against USC, while admirable, was a loss. Voters only care about results. Where is the signature performance for the Beavers? Washington State? It should matter, but the Cougars are 4-3 with a win over a Wisconsin team that fired its coach. The Stanford win looks a little better today than it did two weeks ago, but the Cardinal remain sub-.500. Colorado? Yeech.<\/p>\n

Oregon State had no credibility with voters heading into the season. It takes time to build a base of support. It’s growing. In this week’s poll, the Beavers secured 25 votes in the AP poll, 22 in the coaches’ poll. If there’s a bit of carnage next Saturday, OSU could find themselves in next week’s top 25 for the first time since 2013. It would certainly happen the following week if the Beavers beat Washington on Nov. 4.<\/p>\n

4. What to do at quarterback?<\/b><\/p>\n

Until Chance Nolan is cleared from concussion protocol, there’s no decision to make. It’s Ben Gulbranson at quarterback. When Nolan is cleared to practice, it’s anyone’s guess who plays quarterback. Gulbranson has been fine. He’s completed 61 of 99 passes for 818 yards and five touchdowns. Most important, Gulbranson is 3-0.<\/p>\n

But Nolan was also 3-0 in his first three starts this season. He had a rough patch after that, but it’s not like Gulbranson hasn’t had a few questionable moments. What we know is either can start. When you’re trying to win 10 or 11 games, that not enough. Who’s best equipped to do that? While we’d like to provide an answer, it’s a tough call that only coach Jonathan Smith and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren can make.<\/p>\n

5. It’s Damien Martinez’s time<\/b><\/p>\n

This one is easier. It’s clear Martinez should ascend to role of lead running back. The freshman has been sensational of late, capped by Saturday’s 178-yard, three-touchdown performance. Oregon State has gone with a three-man rotation of Deshaun Fenwick, Jam Griffin and Martinez this season. It’s time to modify that rotation, with Martinez getting more carries. Smith has said on more than one occasional that Martinez is \u201cspecial.\u201d Martinez is OSU’s best home run threat, and he’s learned how to get the tough yards. Feed Martinez, and feed him often down the stretch.<\/p>\n

6. The future looks good<\/b><\/p>\n

Some of Saturday’s biggest plays came from Oregon State freshmen. There was Martinez, running for touchdowns of 3, 4 and 4 yards. Tight end Jack Velling, a true freshman who didn’t see his first action until mid-September, scored on a 60-yard pass play. Martinez and Velling combined to score four of OSU’s five offensive touchdowns. Defensively, second-year sophomore Easton Mascarenas-Easton sacked Colorado quarterback JT Shrout to slow down a promising drive in the second quarter.<\/p>\n

7. Four weeks to get the offense humming<\/b><\/p>\n

Oregon State is a defense-led team. Can we agree on that? The offense has been good at times, average more often, substandard on occasion. It’s been good enough to get the Beavers six wins through eight games. It’s good enough to get through California and Arizona State games. It probably needs some improvement to beat Washington. But there’s zero chance Oregon State is beating Oregon unless the Beavers find another gear on offense. OSU’s defense can play as well as it can play against the Ducks, and it still might take 35 to 40 points for the Beavers to win. Oregon State is not grinding out a win over Oregon. The Beavers will need some electricity and big play potential to overcome the Ducks. OSU has four weeks to find those elements.<\/p>\n

8. Physically, OSU is in good shape<\/b><\/p>\n

It has become cringeworthy during Oregon State news conferences of late when reporters ask about the Beavers’ ability to overcome adversity from injuries. If they did a little homework, they’d learn it’s not true. There have been seasons where injuries are a legitimate factor, but not 2022. These Beavers are remarkably healthy. It’s football, and there are going to be injuries. There’s no getting around that. But, of Oregon State’s top 22 heading into the season, the Beavers have been without tight end Luke Musgrave and quarterback Chance Nolan for an extended period. That’s it. Musgrave’s loss was crippling, for sure. But Ben Gulbranson has seamlessly taken over for Nolan. Oregon State hasn’t had a single significant injury on defense. Sure, the Beavers could use safety Alton Julian, but we knew getting him back from his 2021 ACL surgery was an uphill climb. Oregon State’s continued good health is the No. 1 reason the Beavers are 6-2 and in fine shape heading into November.<\/p>\n

Nick Daschel reported from Corvallis<\/i><\/p>\n

ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n