College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Oregon State Beavers season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Oregon State Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2019 Record: 5-7 overall, 4-5 in Pac-12
Head Coach: Jonathan Smith, 3rd year, 7-17
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 55
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 77
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 68
Obviously, no one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.
5. College Football News Preview 2020: Oregon State Beavers Offense 3 Things To Know
– The Beaver offense had its moments. It scored 35 or more six times as the team came up with the most points since 2013. However, all three of the top skill guys are done.
QB Jake Luton is now a Jacksonville Jaguars, top receiver Isaiah Hodgins is a Buffalo Bill, and leading rusher Artavis Pierce is done. There are good replacement – there aren’t any issues with the skill parts.
The O line is a different story with three starters gone – the loss of left tackle Blake Brandel is the biggest issue. The pass protection was fine, the running game was decent, and the line was good enough to get by. Now it’ll need some reworking.
CFN in 60 Video: Oregon State Beavers Preview
– Jermar Jefferson was the star of the 2018 offense, but the junior running back who tore off 1,380 yards and 12 scores the year before was held to 685 yards and eight scores. He was able to push past his ankle injury enough to run for over 100 yards three times. He’s back along with junior BJ Baylor and junior Calvin Tyler in a deep group.
– Is Tristan Gebbia ready to take over the quarterback gig? He saw a little bit of time in four games, completing 63% of his passes for 347 yards and two scores with a pick. The former Nebraska Cornhusker will be in for a fight with five other options getting a shot.
Hodgins is gone along with No. 2 target Timmy Hernandez. Junior Champ Flemings was second on the team with 32 catches averaging over 14 yards per grab. Florida State transfer Tre’Shaun Harrison and Washington transfer Trey Lowe need to bring instant help.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Oregon State Beavers Defense 3 Things To Know
4. College Football News Preview 2020: Oregon State Beavers Defense 3 Things To Know
– There defense made a massive improvement from a bad few years, allowing 390 points after giving up well over 500 in 2017 and 2018. And now all the growing pains through a youth movement should pay off with nine starters and seven of the top eight tacklers returning.
The linebacking corps should be fantastic with top two tacklers Avery Roberts and Omar Speights returning on the inside, and All-America pass rusher Hamlicar Rashed about to become a college football household name at one of the outside spots. This group has to be stronger and more consistent against the run, but getting behind the line won’t be a problem.
– 377-pound Elu Aydon is done on the nose, but there’s size at the two end spots. Isaac Hodgins and Simon Sandberg are defensive tackles playing on the end, but the massive bulk isn’t there for the middle.
– The Oregon State secondary got roasted last year for 28 touchdowns, and five of the mere eight interceptions on the year came against both the Pac-12’s Washington schools. Safety Jalen Moore is done, but all of the other parts are back in a good-sized secondary – the corners are built like safeties.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top Oregon State Beavers Players
College Football News Preview 2020: Top Oregon State Beavers Players
Best Oregon State Beavers Offensive Player
RB Jermar Jefferson, Jr.
The 5-10, 208-pound junior started out his career with an all-star season rushing for 1,380 yards and 12 scores to go along with 25 catches. Last year he fought through an ankle injury and missed a few games, but he still averaged close to five yards per carry with 685 yards and eight scores with two receiving touchdowns. When he’s healthy, he’s a 20+ carry workhorse who can crank out yards in chunks.
2. OT Brandon Kipper, Jr.
3. WR Champ Flemings, Jr.
4. QB Tristan Gebbia, Jr.
5. WR Tre’Shan Harrison, Jr.
Best Oregon State Beavers Defensive Player
LB Hamlicar Rashed, Sr.
After showing good pass rushing promise as a sophomore, the 6-4, 238-pounder turned into one of the nation’s best all-around defensive game-wreckers.
A top pro prospect, he’s coming off a 14-sack, 22-tackle-for-loss season with 62 tackles, coming up with two sacks or more five games. He’s a linebacker, but he’ll be used like a hybrid pass rusher who could work as an end if needed.
2. LB Omar Speights, Soph.
3. LB Avery Roberts, Jr.
4. S David Morris, Jr.
5. CB Nahshon Wright, Jr.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Oregon State Beavers Keys To The Season
College Football News Preview 2020: Oregon State Beavers Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Oregon State Beavers Offense
Keep pushing the passing game deep. It didn’t always equate to wins, but at the very least, the Beaver offense started to come up with a whole lot more big plays than it had in several years.
The O bombed away for more than ten yards per pass four times. The OSU passing game came up with more than ten yards per pass three times in the previous six seasons.
The air show also came up with four touchdown passes or more five times. The program came up with five games with four scoring passes or more in the previous seven years.
There are plenty of new parts – and it starts at quarterback – but the offense has to keep on pressing and testing defenses.
Biggest Key To The Oregon State Beavers Defense
The D has to be far, far, far better on the money downs. It was miserable at coming up with stops on fourth downs, allowing teams to convert a whopping 21-of-27 times.
Offenses didn’t have any fear. Hawaii hit all three of its conversions in the three point win, Washington State hit its two tries in a 54-53 victory, and Oregon was able to keep things going in a 24-10 win with three fourth down conversions.
The third down defense wasn’t all that great, either. The Beavers allowed teams to convert over 44% of their tries, and allowed five teams to connect on 50% or more of their attempts.
Key Oregon State Beavers Player To A Successful Season
WR Champ Flemings, Jr.
And if it’s not Flemings, it has to be one of the other receiver options to help replace Isaiah Hodgins. He came up with 13 of the team’s 30 touchdown catches and 86 of the 260 grabs.
The No. 1 guy and All-Pac-12 star will be missed, but the 5-5, 142-pound Flemings isn’t going to be a volume-catcher, but he’s extremely quick – he’s a great kickoff returner – and has to bring a veteran presence as a top big play target.
Key Game To The Oregon State Beavers Season
Washington State, Sept. 26
It’s not just that Oregon State needs to win the Pac-12 opener. It’s not just that it needs to win the Pac-12 opener at home. It’s not just that it needs to win the Pac-12 opener at home against new Washington State head coach Nick Rolovoch, whose Hawaii team beat the Beavers last year.
It’s that Oregon State hasn’t beaten Washington State since 2013, losing six in a row including a wild 54-53 shootout last season.
– Oregon State Beavers Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Oregon State Fun Stats
– Field Goals: Opponents 11-of-23 – Oregon State 4-of-9
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 21-of-27 (78%) – Opponents 13-of-24 (54%)
– Turnovers: Opponents 16 – Oregon State 6
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Oregon State Beavers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
1. College Football News Preview 2020: Oregon State Beavers Win Total Prediction, What Will Happen
2013 was the last time Oregon State got to enjoy a winning season and a trip to a bowl game. It knocked on the door last year – losing three of its last four games in what would be a 5-7 campaign – but head coach Jonathan Smith is putting together a fun program that appears to be going in the right direction.
There might not be a trip to the Pac-12 Championship any time soon, but the offense has become more explosive, the defense has enough playmakers to improve on a decent – at least for OSU – 2019, and there’s legitimate reason to be excited.
A steady quarterback has to emerge, and it’s never a plus when you lose your leading passer, rusher, and receiver, but the talent level has improved enough to make going to a bowl game a must.
However …
Set The Oregon State Beavers Regular Season Win Total At … 6
Bet at BetMGM Win Total Line: 5.5
There are a whole lot of 50/50 games that could go either way, and there aren’t a whole slew of layups.
Oregon State just needs to get to six wins, but the opener against Oklahoma State – this is a much better Cowboy team than the one that won last year’s opener 52-36 – and road games at Washington, Arizona State, Utah, and Stanford will all be issues.
The home games against Washington State, Cal, and Oregon won’t be easy, either.
But the team will be good enough to win a few of the tough games and take out Colorado State, Portland State, UCLA and Arizona – all at home – for a nice base of wins.
The Beavers have done the next step up thing. Now it’s time to go one step further.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
