Oregon State
Brett McMurphy of Action Network projects Miami to play Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.
If the Beavers and Hurricanes kickoff in El Paso on New Year’s Eve it will be the first time that the teams have met. Oregon State is 7-5 this season under head coach and legendary Beavers quarterback Jonathan Smith.
Smith left Oregon State as the all-time leader with 9,680 yards passing and 55 TDs. A three-year starter for the Beavers, Smith was coached by two-time Miami national championship coach Dennis Erickson. With Smith at QB and Erickson as head coach, Oregon State finished the 2000 season 11-1.
The Beavers ended the 2000 season ranked fourth, two spots behind Miami. In the final three seasons with Smith at QB, Oregon State was 24-12. In four seasons with Smith as the head coach, Oregon State is 16-27. This was the Beavers first winning season under Smith. This was the first winning season for Oregon State since 2013.
Oregon State is 37th nationally averaging 32.8 PPG. The Beavers allow 25.9 PPG which is 63rd nationally. Oregon State is potent on the ground averaging 217.33 yards per game that is 14th nationally. The Beavers began the 2021 season 4-1 before dropping four of their final seven games.