Pac-12 Notes – Oregon State Week

October 21st 

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ESPN: Oregon State quarterback Chance Nolan still out

From ESPN … Oregon State will again be without Chance Nolan for Saturday’s game against Colorado, as the quarterback — who was injured Oct. 1 — has yet to clear concussion protocol, a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Friday.

Nolan, who has missed games against Stanford and Washington State, left the Beavers’ blowout loss to Utah on Oct. 1 because of a neck strain.

Ben Gulbranson has made two starts in place of Nolan, who had made 19 starts in a row before suffering the injury. Gulbranson, a freshman, has thrown for 616 yards and 3 touchdowns on 47-of-78 passing in four appearances this season as the Beavers (5-2) have relied heavily on the rushing game in Nolan’s absence.

Nolan, a junior, has 939 passing yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.

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October 20th 

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Could the Big 12 secure a media rights deal before the Pac-12?

From CBS Sports … The Big 12 could have a new media rights deal in place with ESPN and Fox within a matter of weeks, sources tell CBS Sports.

The league has been aggressively pursuing a new deal ahead of the conference’s formal negotiating window in 2024. The Big 12’s current contract with ESPN and Fox expires after the 2024-25 academic year.

While a new deal this far ahead of the expiration of the current contract is not assured, it could position the Big 12 ahead of the Pac-12 in terms of securing more lucrative broadcast windows. The Pac-12 is currently on the open market for a new contract as its current deal expires in 2024.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark told CBS Sports on Wednesday, if a new deal isn’t finalized in the near term, “there is the option to wait 16 months [for the formal negotiating window to begin].”

Yormark expects per-school media rights revenue to increase from its current deal despite the losses of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC beginning in 2025.

With those two giants, Big 12 schools are currently receiving $43 million annually for their media rights, a figure that includes revenue from the NCAA Tournament and bowl games. Former commissioner Bob Bowlsby testified to the Texas legislature — shortly after the loss of Texas and Oklahoma — that the value of the conference would decrease by 50% without those programs.

Asked how a new media rights figure could surpass $43 million per program, Yormark told CBS Sports, “I’m a good salesman.” He stressed the value of live sports — the unknown of who is going to win — which has long been the attraction of TV rights.

Continue reading story here

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October 19th

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CU Falls Out of ESPN Bottom Ten

From ESPN … Here at Bottom 10 Headquarters, located behind the Pixar character rental office where they loaned out that red Anger face from “Inside Out” that Nick Saban borrowed for the Alabama-Tennessee game, we are wondering what the heck happened to our numerical BFF. You know, our old pal zero? Cero? Nula? Zewo?

When the final buzzer blared over the last late-night games on Saturday night/Sunday morning and the cigar smoke from Knoxville had finally cleared, we realized that … wait … could it be true?! We’re not even into November yet and there are now no zero-win teams remaining? Nil. Nada. Zilch. It’s the truth, thanks to Colorado’s overtime win over Cal.

It’s weird, right? I mean, sure, we’re used to seeing plenty of 0’s on scoreboards when the clock reads 00:00. We’re accustomed to knowing that zero of our teams will receive bowl berths. We’re plenty familiar with the feeling of knowing the answer when someone asks, “Hey, how many votes did your teams receive in the preseason media polls?” or “How many Bottom 10 teams are playing in prime time on ABC this weekend?” Scratch. Goose egg. Diddly squat.

But then, just as we have given up hope when it comes to ever seeing another zero sum in front of the hyphen and all those losses, a hero rises. A new No. 1 Bottom 10 team. And though it may no longer have a “0-” at the front of its record, its very name steps in to fill the sudden volumeless void.

The Zips of Akron.

3. North by Northworstern (1-5)

Speaking of off weeks, the Mildcats spent theirs licking their post-Wisconsin wounds while Wisconsin spent its weekend making Northwestern’s 42-7 loss to the coachless Badgers even Northworstern as they lost to then-2-4 Bottom 10 Wait Listers Michigan State in double overtime. Now NU travels east for the kind of classic regional rivalry that is quickly becoming the trademark of the Big Ten, a visit to Maryland.

5. Kansas Nayhawks (5-2)

As my dad told us when Santa brought us a huge new Death Star toy and we immediately blew it up with firecrackers, “You can’t have nice things!” The latest example: Kansas, which went 5-0, was ranked 19th in that other poll and hosted College GameDay … then went and lost two in a row. If we’re being honest, perhaps the Nayhawks are back here simply because we missed them. An itch we couldn’t scratch. A spot of rash that can only be smoothed by slathering of the ointment that is the Coveted Fifth Spot.

9. Colora-duh State (1-5)

The Rams made a statement in Week 6 when they defeated No-vada for their first win of the season. Then they made a follow-up statement by losing to Utah State, which had its third-string quarterback under center. The Rams game this weekend against Hawai’i was going to be a candidate for Pillow Fight of the Week of the Year of the Century, but then the Rainbow Warriors beat Nevada too. Why do you hate us, Nevada?-

Waiting List: Colora-duh, Whew Mexico State, ULM (pronounced “Uhlm”), Temple of Doom, Living on Tulsa Time, Huh-why-yuh, Arkan-saw State, Mizz-lose, Western not Eastern or Central Michigan, Lose-iana Tech, pretty much every team in Virginia, throwing the most awesome post-win souvenir into a river.

Read full story here

Oklahoma and Texas to remain in the Big 12 until 2025

From TulsaWorld.com … Oklahoma and Texas will remain in the Big 12 Conference through the remainder of the league’s current grant of rights before departing for the SEC in 2025, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said Tuesday afternoon.

“They’re going to be here through ‘25,” Yormark told reporters at Big 12 Basketball Tipoff inside Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center. “They’ve committed themselves in advance of me getting here and they’ve reiterated that commitment. So they’ll be here through the duration (of the grant of rights). And my relationship with both Texas and Oklahoma is very, very strong. And they are full members and we’re looking forward to working with them.”

Yormark’s latest comments on the future of the conference and the impending exits of OU and Texas come in a moment of continual Big 12 churn.

Last week, representatives from both OU and Texas were present for league meetings in Dallas with the remaining Big 12 schools and incoming conference additions BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF. Among the topics settled, per multiple reports, was the adoption of a temporary scheduling format for the 2023 and 2024 football seasons, reflecting an expectation that the pair of departing schools will remain in Big 12 after the four future schools arrive in 2023.

Yormark’s assertion around an exit date for OU and Texas also arrives as the the Big 12 has held continued talks over a new media rights deal with broadcast partners Fox and ESPN.

The former Brooklyn Nets and Roc Nation executive expressed confidence on Tuesday that the league could reach an agreement on a new deal before the exclusive negotiating window opens in February 2024.

“My gut tells me we something done before then,” Yormark said. “Very optimistic.”

Regardless of when OU and Texas leave for the SEC, both schools will be required to pay an agreed-upon exit fee of $80 million. Per Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger, the schools would owe the league a “cumulative, estimated price tag of more than $100 million” if they leave before the end of the league’s current grant of rights, which expires on June 30, 2025.

Read full story here

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October 18th

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CU “loses” No. 1 ranking in CBS Bottom 25

From CBS Sports … It was an incredible weekend of college football, and not just because of what we saw at the top of the sport. Sure, Tennessee beating Alabama grabbed headlines, as did TCU coming back to beat Oklahoma State and Michigan smashing Penn State in other battles of unbeatens. Even Utah knocked USC from the list of undefeated teams, but plenty was going on at the bottom too.

Colorado beat Cal 20-13 in overtime to pick up its first win of the season, meaning there are no winless teams remaining. The night (or morning for many of us) ended with Hawaii taking down Nevada 31-16.

That means not only did we see the last winless team get a taste of victory, but the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in The Bottom 25 won on the same weekend. That has never happened this late into the season. It was another incredible reminder that anything is possible in the race for the 2022 Bottom 25 crown.

No. 21 … Virginia Tech … The Hokies dropped their fourth straight, losing 20-14 at home to Miami. The good news is they weren’t blown out. The bad news is offense did next to nothing, and it was more Miami keeping the Hokies in the game than the other way around. Perhaps the Hokies can use this week’s bye to get things in order. (23)

No. 13 … Northwestern … Northwestern had the weekend off and returns to action this weekend against a Maryland team that might not have Taulia Tagovailoa. (14)

No. 5 … Colorado … Let’s go, Buffs! You have to feel great for this team and interim coach Mike Sanford. They’re in a difficult situation but still fighting. Also, full credit to Colorado fans for packing Folsom despite the struggles. Let’s see if the Buffs can carry the momentum on the road against Oregon State. (1)

No. 2 … Colorado State … I wrote last week that Utah State was a much different team with Cooper Legas at QB, and the Rams found out firsthand in a 17-13 loss to the Aggies. They’ll need to rebound quickly because No. 4 Hawaii is coming to town in The Bottom 25 Game of the Week of the Century. It’s going to be epic. (4)

Read full story here

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October 17th

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Kickoff times set for CU v. Arizona State (Homecoming) and the rest of the Pac-12

From CUBuffs.com …

The Arizona State at Colorado football game on Saturday, Oct. 29, will kickoff at 5:30 p.m. MDT and will be televised nationally by ESPNU.

Other selections that weekend:

Thursday, October 27, 2022

8:00pm MT – Utah at Washington State (FS1) – previously announced

Saturday, October 29, 2022

1:30pm MT – Oregon at Cal (FOX or FS1)

5:00pm MT – USC at Arizona (Pac-12 Network)

8:30pm PT – Stanford at UCLA (ESPN)

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October 16th

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Pac-12 lines: CU a three-touchdown underdog

From VegasInsider.com

  • No. 9 UCLA at No. 10 Oregon … 1:30 p.m., MT … Fox … Oregon is a 4.0-point home favorite
  • Arizona State at Stanford … 2:00 p.m., MT … Pac-12 Networks … Stanford is a 3.0-point home favorite
  • Colorado at Oregon State … 6:00 p.m., MT … Oregon State is a 23.0-point home favorite
  • Washington at California … 8:30 p.m., MT … Cal is a 9.5-point home underdog 
  • Idle … Washington State … USC … Arizona … Utah …

Oregon State throttles Washington State in 24-10 victory

From ESPN … With Ben Gulbranson making his second career start at quarterback for Oregon State on Saturday night, the Beavers relied heavily on their running game and defense in a 24-10 victory over Washington State.

Good strategy.

Oregon State (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12 Conference) rushed for 203 yards and Jack Colletto ran for two short touchdowns in handing Washington State (4-3, 1-3) its third loss in four games.

The Cougars relied almost exclusively on the arm of quarterback Cameron Ward, who threw 54 passes in the game.

A 50-yard run off left tackle by Damien Martinez to the 4-yard line late in the third quarter set up Colletto’s 2-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving the Beavers a 24-10 lead.

Trailing by 14 points with six minutes remaining, Ward was forced out of the pocket on fourth-and-8 from the Cougars’ 37-yard line and his desperation heave fell incomplete.

Oregon State missed a 31-yard field goal with about three minutes left that would have made it a three-score game, but the Beavers defense sealed the win.

Continue reading story here

Utah outscores USC, 43-42, winning on a two-point conversion late 

From ESPN … Time was dwindling but the decision had already been made as Cameron Rising drove Utah down the field against previously unbeaten Southern California.

“We were going to keep the ball in Cam’s hands,” Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. “And if we score and time is close to expiring, we were going for 2, no question.”

Rising threw for 415 yards, ran for three touchdowns and scampered up the middle for a go-ahead two-point conversion with 48 seconds left in No. 20 Utah’s 43-42 victory over the seventh-ranked Trojans on Saturday night.

The Utes dedicated the game to Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe, former players who died within a year of each other. In the locker room after the game, the team presented the game ball to the fallen players’ mothers in a poignant moment. Both players wore jersey number 22.

“We wanted to make sure we represented 22 well,” Rising said as the Utes had hand-painted portraits of Jordan and Lowe on their black helmets.

Even when the Utes were down two touchdowns, Rising said his teammates never doubted.

“We had an unwavering belief,” Rising said. “Having Ty and Aaron on your helmet made it that much easier to go.”

Rising rushed a yard for a touchdown on fourth down to set up the deciding conversion.

“Cam Rising is a competitor, warrior, you name it. He’s a champion,” Whittingham said.

Caleb Williams threw for 381 yards and five touchdowns for Southern California (6-1, 4-1 Pac-12). Utah (5-2, 3-1) held the Trojans on their last-ditch drive, handing them their first loss as a record crowd of 53,609 shook Rice-Eccles Stadium and then flooded the field.

“I’m going to be honest, I hate losing. I really, really, really, I hate it, simply,” a devastated Williams said. “So, yeah, I had a little emotion.”

Continue reading story here

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2 Replies to “Pac-12 Notes – Oregon State”

  1. seven touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.,/i>

    Go Buffs up the running defense another big level make em have to fly it

    Now that OSU defense appears pretty good so gosh dang it ,whoever (?) the arse hole is who always talking about them and bragging them up and rooting for them and their OC, you have caused a hex to be put on the Buff offense. Repent and clear out the wax.

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