This article was written by Gus Wilson and published on Sport & State, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.
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Oregon State was one of two programs left behind when the Pac-12 collapsed.
Three years later, the Beavers might be playing their way into the College Football Playoff.
Oregon State is 4-2, has won four straight games, and just scored 122 points over its past two outings. Behind first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard, the Beavers have built one of the highest-scoring offenses in college football around a freshman receiver leading the country and a former FCS quarterback doing the same.
If you haven’t been paying attention to what’s happening in Corvallis, now might be the time.
From Pac-12 limbo to one of the nation’s best offenses
After the 2023 season, 10 Pac-12 programs departed for other conferences, leaving only Oregon State and Washington State behind.
The Beavers went 5-7 in 2024 before bottoming out at 2-10 last season.
Then came Shephard.
JaMarcus Shephard is warning Oregon State fans now that their will be rough moments this football season- but needs the community to keep showing up #adversity https://t.co/9HTt13P8zj
— Tyree Smith (@TyreeSmithTV) August 10, 2026
Oregon State hired Shephard after he spent two seasons at Alabama, most recently as assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Before following Kalen DeBoer to Tuscaloosa, Shephard spent two seasons on his staff at Washington.
His background developing receivers and high-powered offenses has translated immediately.
After opening the season with losses to Houston and Texas Tech, Oregon State has won four straight. The Beavers beat Montana 52-17, UTEP 33-7, Colorado State 56-26 and San Diego State 66-14.
That’s four consecutive wins by at least 26 points. Oregon State is now averaging 41.8 points per game, the 11th-best mark in the country.
And two players are driving it.
College football’s best duo may reside in the Group of Six
Freshman receiver Jesse Legree and quarterback Braden Atkinson have become one of the most productive combinations in the sport.
Legree currently leads the country in both receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Yes, even more than Heisman-favorite Jeremiah Smith.
THE BILETNIKOFF RACE IS HEATING UP 👀
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Oregon State’s Jesse Legree are putting together ridiculous seasons.
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State:
48 REC
916 YDS
11 TDJesse Legree, Oregon State:
38 REC
932 YDS
12 TDLegree exploded for 10 catches, 191 yards and 3 TDs tonight, while Smith added 93 yards and 2 TDs for Ohio State.
Who’s your Biletnikoff favorite right now? 🏆
— CONTENDRS (@contendrsmedia) October 11, 2026
He has eclipsed 100 yards in every game this season, becoming the first Oregon State receiver to do it in six consecutive games.
His latest performance may have been his best yet. Against San Diego State, Legree caught 10 passes for 191 yards and three touchdowns.
See ya ✌️
@Braden_Atkinson ➡️ @jlegree24 for a 71 yard TD to open the half 🔥
📺 @USANetwork https://t.co/5r8SIKaUFU
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) October 11, 2026
The guy throwing him the ball has been just as ridiculous.
Atkinson won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS last season at Mercer, where he threw for 3,596 yards and 34 touchdowns. He transferred to Oregon State and won the starting job over former four-star quarterback Maalik Murphy.
He hasn’t looked back.
Atkinson leads the country with 2,257 passing yards through six games while throwing 21 touchdowns.
See ya ✌️
@Braden_Atkinson ➡️ @jlegree24 for a 71 yard TD to open the half 🔥
📺 @USANetwork https://t.co/5r8SIKaUFU
— Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) October 11, 2026
An FCS transfer and a freshman receiver are now powering one of the most explosive offenses in college football. And they may have something bigger to play for.
The playoff path is real
This is where Oregon State gets really interesting.
Under the new College Football Playoff format for 2026, the highest-ranked team from the Group of Six conferences receives an automatic bid into the 12-team field.
Right now, Boise State is the only Group of Six team ranked in the AP Top 25, sitting at No. 23. Oregon State received just one AP Poll vote this week.
That can change quickly.
The Beavers and Broncos are both undefeated in Pac-12 play and will meet in Boise on Nov. 14 in what could become one of the most important Group of Six games of the season.
Oregon State still has Washington State, Fresno State, Texas State, Boise State and Utah State remaining before its flex matchup to close the regular season.
The Beavers have already shown they can hang around with Power Four competition, losing to Houston by 13 and Texas Tech by 11 before rattling off four dominant victories. Keep winning, and the playoff conversation will take care of itself.
Oregon State went from being one of the programs left behind by conference realignment to having a legitimate path into the 12-team playoff. With Atkinson and Legree putting up video-game numbers, that possibility doesn’t look quite as crazy anymore.
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