CORVALLIS, Ore. — It doesn’t get much worse than this.
On senior night, Oregon State lost at home to a previously winless Sam Houston State — a crushing low point in a season already marred by a fired head coach and fading hopes.
The Beavers outgained their opponent 474-157, yet somehow lost 21-17 after blowing a 17-0 lead. They turned the ball over repeatedly, made special teams mistakes that drew groans from the stands, and watched their fans head for the exits early — only to be begged back over the PA system in time to witness another gut-punch ending.
Through all of it, interim head coach Robb Akey had a message for Beaver Nation: don’t give up.
“It’s still your university, it’s your football team, it’s your Beavers,” Akey said. “We’re all Beavers together, and faith is an important thing. So maintain faith. When people need help the most is when things are hardest.”
A Program in Need of Help — and Hope
Oregon State’s problems go far beyond one bad game. The program needs an overhaul — from a new head coach (a search that’s already underway) to renewed financial investment from boosters and fans.
The team’s on-field struggles have been matched by off-field frustration. Attendance has dipped, donors are pulling back, and the overall mood around the program is bleak.
Akey knows it’s hard to stay optimistic, but he believes the fan base must rally together like a family in crisis.
“If something bad happens in your family, you don’t quit on your family,” Akey said. “You don’t give up on your family. That’s when your family needs you the most. This is when we need Beaver Nation the most.”
There were a few bright spots on Saturday — like senior running back Anthony Hankerson, who continued his climb up Oregon State’s all-time rushing list. But for most fans, those positives are overshadowed by the sense that this season is more about survival than success.
Searching for a Way Forward
At 2-8, Oregon State is teetering on the edge of irrelevance just as it enters a newly restructured Pac-12 — one the university fought hard to preserve. Falling further could mean years of recovery.
The athletic department, already under pressure, will need to rebuild trust and confidence both on and off the field. And Akey knows the fans’ anger is justified.
“Do I expect Beaver Nation to be sad and, excuse my mouth, but pissed? Yes, because we are too,” he said. “We talked about jubilation a week ago, and tonight you got the opposite. The players feel it. We all feel it.”
College football is often a brutal business, where wins and losses define everything. But Akey’s message cuts deeper: beyond the stats and frustration, faith is what keeps a program alive.
“People need to believe things can get better,” he said. “Without that, they can only get worse.”
Next Game
Oregon State (2-8) at Tulsa (2-7)
📅 Saturday, Nov. 15
🕙 10:00 a.m. PT
📍 H.A. Chapman Stadium — Tulsa, OK
📺 No TV broadcast
💻 Stream: ESPN+
