Oregon State Beavers football

History

Early history

Football at Oregon State University started in 1893 shortly after athletics were initially authorized at the college, which was then known as Oregon Agricultural College. Athletics were banned prior to May 1892, but when the school's president Benjamin Arnold died, his successor John Bloss reversed the ban. Bloss' son, William, started the first team, on which he served as both coach and quarterback. The team's first game was an easy 64–0 victory on November 11, 1893, over visiting Albany College.

Conference affiliations

The university has been in several athletic conferences. Prior to joining the Pac-12 Conference (then called the Pacific-8 Conference), OSU intermittently played as an independent school.

• Oregon Intercollegiate Football Association (1893–1897)
• Independent (1898–1901, 1903–1907, 1909–1911)
• Northwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1902, 1908, 1912–1914)
• Pacific Coast Conference (1915–1958)
• Independent (1959–1963)
• Pac-12 Conference (1964–present)

Conference championships

Oregon State has won seven conference championships, done through four different conferences, although two of them have links to the current Pac-12 Conference, as the conference claims the history of the PCC as their own, and the Athletic Association of Western Universities was the first name for the conference that later became the Pac-12 Conference.

† Co-championship

Other claimed championships

The 1897 Oregon Agricultural Aggies football team compiled a perfect 5–0 record, shut out four of five opponents, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 164–8. The team claimed their second league championship in the OIFA.

The Aggies defeated Oregon (26–8) and Washington (16–0). With those two wins, they then proclaimed themselves regional "Champions of the Northwest".

The 1907 Oregon Agricultural Aggies football team represented Oregon Agricultural College as an independent during the 1907 college football season. In their second season under head coach Fred Norcross, the Aggies compiled a perfect 6–0 record, did not allow any of their opponents to score, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 137–0. The Aggies' victories included games against Oregon (4–0), Pacific University (49–0), and Willamette University (42–0).

Oregon Agricultural's game against Loyola, then known as the St. Vincent's College Saints, was a Thanksgiving Day matchup of the "Champions of the Northwest" and the "Champions of California", with the winner taking home the "Championship" of the entire West Coast. After their victory, the Aggies proclaimed themselves "Champions of the Pacific Coast".

Head coaches

List of head coaches, tenure, and number of seasons.

• Will Bloss (1893, 1897) 1, 1
• Guy Kennedy (1894) 1
• Paul Downing (1895) 1
• Tommy Code (1896) 1
• No coach (1898)
• Hiland Orlando Stickney (1899) 1
• No team (1900–1901)
• Fred Herbold (1902) 1
• Thomas L. McFadden (1903) 1
• Allen Steckle (1904–1905) 2
• Fred Norcross (1906–1908) 3
• Sol Metzger (1909) 1
• George Schildmiller (1910) 1
• Sam Dolan (1911–1912) 2
• E. J. Stewart (1913–1915) 3
• Joseph Pipal (1916–1917) 2
• Homer Woodson Hargiss (1918–1919) 2
• Dick Rutherford (1920–1923) 4
• Paul J. Schissler (1924–1932) 9
• Lon Stiner (1933–1942) 10
• No team (1943–1944)
• Lon Stiner (1945–1948) 4
• Kip Taylor (1949–1954) 6
• Tommy Prothro (1955–1964) 10
• Dee Andros (1965–1975) 11
• Craig Fertig (1976–1979) 4
• Joe Avezzano (1980–1984) 5
• Dave Kragthorpe (1985–1990) 6
• Jerry Pettibone (1991–1996) 6
• Mike Riley (1997–1998, 2003–2014) 2, 12
• Dennis Erickson (1999–2002) 4
• Gary Andersen (2015–2017) 3
• Cory Hall (2017) 1
• Jonathan Smith (2018–2023) 6
• Kefense Hynson (2023) 1
• Trent Bray (2024–2025) 2
• JaMarcus Shephard (current)

Bowl games

Main article: List of Oregon State Beavers bowl games

Oregon State University has played in 20 postseason bowl games. The Beavers have also played in the Mirage Bowl, but this was a regular season game and a "bowl" in name only, not a post-season invitational bowl game. The Beavers lost the 1980 edition of the game against No. 14 ranked UCLA 34–3 in front of 80,000 at National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

The 20 bowl game total does not include an invitation to play in the Gotham Bowl in 1960, when no opponent could be found for Oregon State. The Beavers are 12–8 in bowl game appearances.

Home stadium

Main article: Reser Stadium

The Beavers play their home games at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. It was originally called Parker Stadium when it was constructed in 1953, and had a capacity of 25,000. Parker Stadium was renamed Reser Stadium in June 1999. Major renovations from 2005 to 2016 increased the stadium's capacity to 43,363, where it stood through the 2021 season. Another renovation project, called "Completing Reser", was announced on Feb. 4, 2021. The stadium featured a temporary capacity of 26,000 during the 2022 season and now has an official capacity of 35,548 at the completion of the construction project for the 2023 season.

Rivalries

Oregon

Main article: Oregon–Oregon State football rivalry

Oregon State University's primary rival is the University of Oregon. The two schools enjoy a fierce and long-standing rivalry due to the proximity of the two campuses. The University of Oregon is in Eugene, Oregon, about 40 mi south of Corvallis.

The teams first matched up on the gridiron in 1894 and have been playing each other almost every year since. The rivalry game between the two schools has traditionally been the last game of each season and was long known as the "Civil War Game." The two schools have played each other 128 times, tied for fifth most among any Division I FBS rivalry. Though not officially recognized by the universities, the Platypus Trophy is awarded annually to the winning alumni association. Oregon leads the series 69–49–10 through the end of the 2024 season.

Washington State

Main article: Oregon State–Washington State football rivalry

The rivalry with Washington State started in 1895 when Cougars defeated the Beavers 41–35. It is among the most played FBS rivalries in history. The two rivals have meet 110 times as of 2025 and will play each other twice with a home-and-home series in 2025. Washington State leads the series 57–50–3 through the middle of the 2025 season.

The Beavers' largest margin of victory was 66–13 in 2008, while the Cougars' largest margin of victory was 55–7 in 1991. Oregon State's longest win streak against the Cougars is six straight from 1966 to 1971, while Washington State's longest against the Beavers is 10 straight from 1983 to 1993. The rivalry has not been officially named yet, with suggestions including the "Land-Grant Rivalry", the "Cascade Cup", and the "Colombia River Rivalry".

Northwest Championship

Main article: Northwest Championship

The Northwest Championship is a rivalry between Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, and Washington State. The four Pacific Northwest rivals began playing in a round-robin format in the 1903 season. No trophy is awarded to the winner, and no organization grants the title, although in 2002, the Washington Huskies wore homemade t-shirts for the Northwest Championship.

Notable players and coaches

Retired numbers

Although not a retired number Oregon State has "AL" displayed opposite Terry Baker's number "11" in Reser Stadium for long time donor/philanthropist/contributor Al Reser.

Individual national award winners

Players

• Heisman Trophy :Terry Baker (1962)

• Maxwell Award :Terry Baker (1962)

• Groza Award :Alexis Serna (2005)

• Biletnikoff Trophy :Mike Hass (2005) :Brandin Cooks (2013)

• Chic Harley Award :Terry Baker (1962)

• Paul Hornung Award :Jack Colletto (2022)

• National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award :Mike Kline (1961) :Terry Baker (1962)

• UPI College Football Player of the Year :Terry Baker (1962)

• Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year :Terry Baker (1962)

• Sporting News College Football Player of the Year :Terry Baker (1962)

• College Football Network Punt Returner of the Year :Anthony Gould (2022)

• Silver Anniversary Awards :Terry Baker (1988) :Pellom McDaniels (2015)

• NCAA Inspiration Award :Esera Tuaolo (2024)

Coaches

• Sporting News Coach of the Year :Dennis Erickson (2000)

• AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year :Mike Riley (2008) :Mike Riley (2012) :Jonathan Smith (2022)

• Amos Alonzo Stagg Award :John Cooper (2016)

Individual conference awards

• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year :Jacquizz Rodgers (2008)

• Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year :Bill Swancutt (2004†) :Stephen Paea (2010)

• Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year :Brandon Browner (2003) :Jeremy Perry (2005†) :Jacquizz Rodgers (2008) :Jermar Jefferson (2018) :Damien Martinez (2022)

• Pac-12 Coach of the Year :Dave Kragthorpe (1989) :Dennis Erickson (2000) :Mike Riley (2008) :Jonathan Smith (2022†)

• Pop Warner Trophy :Joe Francis (1957) :Terry Baker (1962) :Vern Burke (1963) :Pete Pifer (1966)

• W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy :Terry Baker (1962) :Vern Burke (1963) :Pete Pifer (1966)

• Morris Trophy :Esera Tuaolo (1989) :Inoke Breckterfield (1998) :Bill Swancutt (2004) :Stephen Paea (2008, 2009)

†Shared Award

All-Americans

Oregon State has had 53 first team All-Americans in the history of the program as of the end of the 2023 season, with 8 Consensus All-Americans and 2 Unanimous All-Americans.

• 1916 Herman Abraham – HB
• 1921 George "Gap" Powell – FB
• 1928 Howard Maple – QB
• 1933 Red Franklin – HB
• 1933 Ade Schwammel – T
• 1939 Eberle Schultz – OG
• 1940 Vic Sears – T
• 1941 Quentin Greenough – C
• 1946 Bill Gray – C
• 1955 John Witte – T
• 1956 John Witte – T †
• 1958 Ted Bates – OT †
• 1962 Terry Baker – QB ‡
• 1963 Vern Burke – SE †
• 1964 Jack O'Billovich – LB
• 1964 Rich Koeper – OT
• 1967 Jess Lewis – DT
• 1967 Jon Sandstrom – G
• 1967 John Didion – C
• 1968 John Didion – C ‡
• 1968 Bill Enyart – FB
• 1970 Craig Hanneman – DT
• 1972 Steve Brown – LB
• 1979 Steve Coury – SE
• 1992 Fletcher Keister – OG
• 1998 Inoke Breckterfield – DE
• 2000 Ken Simonton – TB
• 2000 DeLawrence Grant – DE
• 2000 Chris Gibson – C
• 2000 Richard Seigler – LB
• 2001 Dennis Weathersby – CB
• 2001 Mitch Meeuwsen – S
• 2002 Dennis Weathersby – CB
• 2002 Steven Jackson – TB
• 2003 Steven Jackson – TB
• 2003 Brandon Browner – CB
• 2004 Mitch Meeuwsen – FS
• 2004 Mike Hass – WR
• 2005 Mike Hass – WR
• 2005 Alexis Serna – PK
• 2005 Jeremy Perry – OT
• 2006 Sammie Stroughter – PR
• 2007 Roy Schuening – OG
• 2008 Andy Levitre – OT
• 2009 Jacquizz Rodgers – RB
• 2009 James Rodgers – WR
• 2010 Stephen Paea – DT †
• 2012 Jordan Poyer – CB †
• 2013 Brandin Cooks – WR †
• 2019 Hamilcar Rashed Jr. – LB
• 2022 Anthony Gould – PR
• 2022 Brandon Kipper – G
• 2023 Taliese Fuaga – OT

† Consensus Selection, ‡ Unanimous Selection

College Football Hall of Fame inductees

The Beavers have had three players and three coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Notable former players

• James Allen, former linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
• Sam Baker, NFL player in 1953, 1956–1969
• Terry Baker, 1962 Heisman Trophy winner, Maxwell Award winner, Sportsman of the Year, and NFL quarterback from 1963 to 1965
• Kelly Chapman, TE – Ottawa Rough Riders 1994–1996
• Brandin Cooks, NFL wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints
• José Cortéz, NFL kicker from 1999 to 2006
• Bill Enyart, NFL player from 1969 to 1971
• Joe Francis, NFL QB from 1958 to 1959
• DeLawrence Grant, former linebacker for the Oakland Raiders
• Bob Grim, NFL player from 1967 to 1977, one time Pro Bowler
• Bob Horn, NFL linebacker from 1976 to 1983
• T. J. Houshmandzadeh, former NFL wide receiver, one time Pro Bowler
• Steven Jackson, NFL running back from 2004 to 2015
• Chad Johnson, former NFL wide receiver. Two time AFC leader in receiving yards. Five time Pro Bowler
• Osia Lewis, player and coach
• Paul Lowe, AFL running back from 1960 to 1969, two-time AFL All-Star, 1965 AFL MVP, & member of the AFL All-Time Team
• Greg Marshall, NFL defensive lineman (Baltimore Colts), 1978–1979, CFL Ottawa Rough Riders, 1980–88. All League multiple times, 1983 Defensive Player of the Year. Member of All Time Franchise Team. Current Head Football Coach, University of Toronto.
• Pellom McDaniels, Defensive lineman in the World League of American Football from 1991 to 1992 for the Birmingham Fire, and NFL from 1993 to 2000 for the Kansas City Chiefs & Atlanta Falcons
• Bill McKalip, NFL player from 1932 to 1932, 1934, 1936
• Bronco Mendenhall, former head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers, 2016–2021
• Lyle Moevao, QB Graduate Assistant for the Beavers and former quarterback for the La Courneuve Flash of the Ligue Élite de Football Américain. Won the French football championship in 2011.
• Joe Phillips, NFL defensive tackle from 1986 to 1999
• Jordan Poyer, NFL safety for the Miami Dolphins
• Steve Preece, NFL defensive back from 1969 to 1977
• Frank Ramsey, NFL offensive lineman, 1945 Chicago Bears
• Rocky Rasley, NFL guard from 1969 to 1970, 1972–1976
• Terrell Roberts, NFL player 2003–2004
• Ade Schwammel, NFL player from 1934 to 1936, 1943–1944
• Vic Sears, NFL player from 1941 to 1943, 1945–1953 and member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
• Ken Simonton, former NFL running back for the Buffalo Bills
• Jonathan Smith, former offensive coordinator at the University of Washington and former head coach.
• George Svendsen, NFL center from 1935 to 1937, 1940–1941 and member of the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team
• Aaron Thomas, NFL player from 1961 to 1970
• Robb Thomas, NFL wide receiver from 1989 to 1998
• Reggie Tongue, NFL safety from 1996 to 2005
• Esera Tuaolo, NFL defensive tackle from 1991 to 1999
• F. Wayne Valley, Founder and principal owner of the Oakland Raiders & former President of the American Football League
• Skip Vanderbundt, NFL Linebacker, SF 49ers (1969–1977) N.O. Saints (1978)
• Lloyd Wickett, NFL defensive end 1943, 1946 for the Detroit Lions
• Len Younce, NFL guard in 1941, 1943–1944, 1946–1948 & member of the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team

Media

| Radio flagship: KEX 1190 AM in Portland | Broadcasters: Mike Parker (play-by-play), Jim Wilson (analyst), and Ron Callan (sideline reporter). | Oregon State also has an extensive network of broadcast affiliates.}}

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 30, 2025.

1. Vegas Kickoff Classic, Las Vegas, Nevada

References

References

1. "Oregon State Historical Data". cfbdatawarehouse.com.
2. Forgard, Benjamin. "The Evolution of School Spirit and Tradition at Oregon State University".
3. Edmonston, George Jr.. "The Birth of OSU Football". OSU Alumni Association.
4. Bear and Forbear, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40023456/oregon_agricultural_college_meets/ "College Column,"] ''Corvallis Times,'' vol. 6, no. 39 (Nov. 15, 1893), pg. 3.
5. "Athletics". The Orange & Black.
6. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33939327/northwest_intercollegiate_athletic/ "League of Colleges,"] ''Spokane Daily Chronicle,'' vol. 17, no. 34 (Oct. 11, 1902), p. 1.
7. "Pac-12 Football Champions". Pac-12 Conference.
8. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40034553/the-football-rage-brief-review-of-the/ "Football,"] ''Corvallis Gazette'' vol. 30, no. 45 (Dec. 22, 1893), p. 1., quoting the ''Corvallis Gazette.''
9. "Football team, 1897".
10. "2016 Football Media Guide". Oregon State University.
11. Welsch, Jeff. (January 2003). "''Tales from Oregon State Sports''". Sports Publishing.
12. "1907 College Football Top 25".
13. "Barometer Football Number, 1907".
14. "Oregon State Beavers Coaches".
15. "Oregon State University Football Media Guide: Bowl Game History".
16. "Oregon State Bowl History".
17. "Gotham Bowl inaugural off". Register Guard.
18. "Reser Stadium". osubeavers.com.
19. "OSU receives $50 million lead gift to complete Reser Stadium, enable year-round university programs".
20. Lindblom, Jeffrey. (30 August 2022). "Reser Stadium renovations will continue past Beavers' home opener".
21. "Soon to be coming your way: a full stadium in Corvallis".
22. "Winsipedia - Oregon Ducks vs. Oregon State Beavers football series history".
23. "Winsipedia - Washington State Cougars vs. Oregon State Beavers football series history".
24. Thorpe, Jacob. (2024-11-23). "Buddy-buddy time is over. Washington State-Oregon State is now a real rivalry.".
25. Condotta, Bob. (October 12, 2004). "Huskies eyeing mythical Northwest title". The Seattle Times.
26. Maisel, Ivan. (November 25, 2002). "Tale Of Two T-Shirts". ESPN.com.
27. Kercheval, Ben. (April 1, 2019). "How the Arizona Hotshots ended their losing streak to become the AAF's hottest team". CBS Sports.
28. Jude, Adam. (October 5, 2016). "Silence was Golden, and purple: Remembering when UW last won at Oregon in 2002". The Seattle Times.
29. "Terry Baker (1988) – Hall of Fame".
30. (17 November 2018). "Terry Baker – Football | Oregon Sports Hall of Fame & Museum".
31. (2015-01-20). "NCAA honors McDaniels with Silver Anniversary Award".
32. (December 6, 2023). "2024 NCAA Inspiration Award: Esera Tuaolo". [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]].
33. "2012 Football Media Guide – All-Americans". OSUBeavers.com.
34. "Award Winners".
35. Hall of Fame. "Inductees by College". CFBHOF.
36. "Radio Affiliates". Oregon State University Athletics.
37. "Oregon State Beavers Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com.