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Oregon State 2026 Football Schedule Breakdown & Outlook
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- Oregon State 2026 Football Schedule Breakdown & Outlook
Everything is starting over for Oregon State
with a bigger Pac-12 and new head coach JaMarcus Shephard.
Welcome to the gig, Coach … good luck with the non-conference start to the season. More on this in a moment.
The expectations are there to at least be a little better after a 2-10 season with several winnable conference games, but it won't be easy. Here's our breakdown of the 2026 Beaver schedule.
Analysis of the Oregon State 2026 Football Schedule
Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shephard, left, waits to be introduced for his press conference at Reser Stadium on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Corvallis, Ore.© Kevin Neri/Statesman Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Good
There might be a few long trips in there, but four of the first six games are at home, and there aren't two straight road games in Pac-12 play.
The flex game is still in question - likely Washington State
- but the midseason dates with San Diego State
and Wazzu are in Reser. However …
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The Bad
The first three games are a problem.
Houston
came to Corvallis last year, and now Oregon State returns the favor with road trip to face the Cougars to start the season.
After that, Texas Tech
comes to town, and then a loaded Montana
team from the FCS comes in. Having to go to Boise State
and Fresno State
hurts.
Best-Case Scenario
The Beavers are competitive in the first two games, beat Montana, and don't blink against UTEP
on the long road date.
A big win over Colorado State
to open the Pac-12 season sets the tone for the huge home dates to follow.
After beating Fresno State on the road, a bowl game is locked up with a win over Texas State
before making a push for the conference championship over the last three games.
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Worst-Case Scenario
After getting obliterated by Houston and Texas Tech, the Beavers get tripped up by Montana.
They lose the Pac-12 opener against Colorado State, can't handle the home dates with San Diego State and Washington State, and bowl hopes are long gone before mid-November.
2026 Oregon State Football Schedule
Sept 5 at Houston
Sept 12 Texas Tech
Sept 19 Montana
Sept 26 at UTEP
Oct 3 at Colorado State
Oct 10 San Diego State
Oct 17 Washington State
Oct 24 OPEN DATE
Oct 30 or 31 at Fresno State
Nov 7 Texas State
Nov 14 at Boise State
Nov 21 Utah State
Nov 28 at Washington State
Games That Will Decide Oregon State's 2026 Season
1. San Diego State, Oct. 10
It's one of those games that's the measuring stick of the season. Five games in, the Beavers might need this home date to show whether or not they're in the bowl and Pac-12 mix.
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2. Montana, Sept. 19
Don't scoff at the idea of an FCS game being important. After dealing with Houston and Texas Tech, the Beavers can't be 0-3. The Grizzles are good enough to make that happen.
3. Washington State, Oct. 17
Wazzu is the likely flex game for Oregon State, but that will be on the road. To hammer this home, winning the games in Reser is a must.
Related: Breaking Down Fresno State's 2026 Football Schedule
This story was originally published by College Football News on Feb 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
