Oregon State 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Oregon State Beavers 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Oregon State Beavers roster and what to expect in the Pac-12 this season. Can first-year head coach Jamarcus Shepard turn things around after a 2-10 finish in 2025? Will transfer quarterback Maalik Murphy give new offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen an offense that finally moves the ball? And how much can new defensive coordinator Mike McIntyre squeeze out of a defense that already graded better than the record?
Which returning starters, from tight end Gabe Milbourn to offensive linemen Nathan Elu, Josiah Timoteo and Tyler Voltin, anchor this rebuild? Can a transfer haul headlined by wide receiver Xayvion Noland and EDGE Ish Findlayter add enough juice to a class that signed zero top 300 recruits? Do defensive holdovers Takari Hickle, Jacob Schuster, Aiden Sullivan, Trey Glasper and Sailasa Vadrawale III hold up in the rebuilt Pac-12? What makes a gameday at Reser Stadium in Corvallis one of the best atmospheres in the sport, chainsaw and all? How brutal is a schedule that opens against Houston and Texas Tech before Montana comes to town? And where’s the betting value on the Oregon State Beavers win total, Pac-12 odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
A New Voice On The Sideline
Oregon State is starting over again. First, the Beavers went 2-10 in 2025, and that turned the program over to first-year head coach Jamarcus Shepard. He arrives with an 0-0 record in Corvallis and plenty to prove. But the losing was closer than the record looks. Oregon State also went 1-4 in games decided by nine points or less. So a few bounces the other way and this is a very different conversation.
Maalik Murphy Runs A Rebuilt Offense
The offense has a new coordinator in Mitch Dahlen and a proven arm under center. Then Maalik Murphy transfers in as a redshirt senior by way of Texas and Duke. His career line reads 38 touchdowns to 23 interceptions with a 59.2 completion percentage across 29 games. Because of that experience, Murphy matters in a made-over Pac-12. The unit he inherits also ranked 125th in scoring and 95th in total offense a year ago, so the only way is up. Together, tight end Gabe Milbourn and offensive linemen Nathan Elu, Josiah Timoteo and Tyler Voltin return to steady the group.
Mike McIntyre Takes Over A Defense With Talent
The defensive rebuild lands on Mike McIntyre. But his numbers from 2025 were not as ugly as the record. Oregon State finished 75th in total defense and 81st against the run. That also points to a roster with real pieces. First, Takari Hickle and Jacob Schuster anchor the line. Next, Aiden Sullivan headlines the linebackers, while Trey Glasper and Sailasa Vadrawale III return in the secondary. Returning production sits at 44 percent, so McIntyre has to reload fast.
The Transfer Portal Rebuild
This roster was built through the portal. First, Oregon State brought in 38 commits, split between 17 high school recruits and 21 transfers, and signed zero top 300 players. So quantity had to make up for star power. Wide receiver Xayvion Noland, offensive lineman Kwan Johnson and tight end Eric Olsen headline the offensive additions. Meanwhile, on defense, EDGE Ish Findlayter and safety RJ Whitten lead the way. The talent is spread thin, but the volume also gives Shepard bodies to work with.
A Gauntlet Schedule In The New Pac-12
The schedule does the Beavers no favors. Oregon State opens at Houston and then draws Texas Tech, two teams built to win right now. Montana visits Reser Stadium next, and the Grizzlies are a preseason FCS heavyweight. From there the slate runs through UTEP, Colorado State, San Diego State, Washington State, Fresno State, Texas State, Boise State, Utah State and a flex finale. But the books are skeptical. The win total sits at 3.5, with Pac-12 title odds at +3000 and College Football Playoff odds at +30000. This is a long-haul rebuild, and Corvallis knows it.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
02:31 Welcome to the Oregon State Beavers Preview
05:06 One of Our Favorite Fan Bases
06:11 A 2-10 Season That Deserved Better
08:09 The Pac-12 Snub and Realignment Mess
09:40 The Jamarcus Shepard Hire
13:24 New OC Mitch Dahlen and QB Maalik Murphy
15:18 Offense: Returners and the Transfer Haul
22:20 Defense and DC Mike McIntyre
25:20 Gameday: NIL Beer, Angry Beaver and Reser Stadium
28:58 Beaver Legends and Program Identity
30:14 State of the Program: 2 Out of 10
32:32 Schedule Breakdown, Week by Week
40:36 Win Total, Pac-12 and CFP Prediction
43:06 Who Should Be on the Schedule?
