Oregon State pushes back against weak national football predictions: ‘We’re going to break the door down’ on CFP

LAS VEGAS – It was a college football media day event like no other.

Which only makes sense because the Pac-12 is a conference unlike any other.

While other conferences are holding their traditional media day events in stadiums or using multiple ballrooms to showcase their teams, coaches and players, the Pac-12 went with a nightclub act.

It wasn’t even called Media Day, but “After Hours with Bees and Coogs.” In a conference room at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino on Wednesday night, the lights were dimmed, and people sat at circular tables, each with a single light.

All that was missing was Jimmy Kimmel.

One by one, coaches and current and former players from Oregon State and Washington State took the mic to promote their school and what’s left of the Pac-12. Commissioner Teresa Gold brought the house down when she quipped, “Yes, we’re drinking tonight.” …I’d say if anyone has earned the right to drink, it’s the Pac-12.

Stump speeches ranged from measured and confident to emotional and downright fiery. The theme of the night was OSU and WSU have a chip on their shoulder, and we’re here to shut up the doubters.

“We are not licking our wounds. “We’re trying our luck,” Washington State coach Jake Dickert said.

Oregon State and Washington State were sidelined when the Pac-12 collapsed last August, as the remaining 10 schools found homes in the Big 10, Big 12 and ACC, continuing the conference musical chairs. Trying to keep up. This was the purpose of holding a media event in Las Vegas instead of in a centrally located city like Hood River for OSU and WSU. The Pac-12 hoped to attract national media members to its event. There was some success, as many prominent writers were present on the Wednesday night.

To keep the national fires burning, beavers and cougars will have to produce a massive harvest this fall. Outsiders aren’t giving Oregon State and Washington State much hope, as many preseason college football publications hardly think both schools are even the lowest contenders for a bowl berth.

It’s a far cry from what Oregon State coach Trent Brey was selling his team last December when he took over the program from Jonathan Smith. Bray recently sold its team for a chance to become one of 12 teams in the expanded College Football Playoff.

Players didn’t just buy what Bray was selling then. They are buying more stock.

“We’re going to break the door down with the College Football Playoff,” Oregon State cornerback Jaden Robinson said.

“The world,” OSU tight end Jermaine Terry II said, “is definitely going to find out what we’re doing on August 31 and the rest of the season.”

The most passionate group to speak Wednesday were former OSU and WSU players. Former Cougar quarterback great Jack Thompson uttered some expletives while making his feelings clear on a conference breakdown.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks. “Over one hundred and nine years of beautiful heritage has been ruined,” Thompson said.

Thompson has had several months to think about the future, and he feels good that OSU and WSU – two schools that he says are “very similar… our cultures are similar” – Are together in the fight.

“You couldn’t ask for the support of two better institutions. “I challenge everyone in the country to take a look at our institutions,” Thompson said. “College football, college sports, needs us. We need to succeed for all the right reasons.”

There was a lot of gratitude and thanks, especially from the trainers.

Bray said of his players, “They believed in this place for a reason, and with the outside world calling on them, their willingness to stick with it even in such difficult times is very admirable.”

Meanwhile, Gould is in charge of the bigger picture. Will the Pac-12 continue and grow in the coming years? Is there a chance at a Power 4 conference in the future? Gould said he has spent much of his time recently evaluating the national landscape with “always in mind.”

“There is no foregone conclusion about any one solution,” Gould said. “I’m grateful to all of these young men and all of these student athletes in these programs for keeping an open mind about whatever options come our way and then being prepared for them.”

Short: Oregon State will open its preseason camp on campus on Thursday, August 1. Players will report the day before, although most are spending their summer in Corvallis. …Bray said there have been no injuries since the spring that would rule a player out of participation in August. Those expected to have Bray ready to go include receiver Darius Clemons, a Michigan transfer who missed most of this spring due to injury. … Gould said she is currently working with Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Navarez and the OSU and WSU athletic directors on an agreement for the 2025 football season. “Our intention is to make a decision before the start of the season,” Gould said. …An announcement with a defined playing order for the Pac-12’s contracted bowl games is coming soon. “I would be surprised if it’s another week,” Gould said. Oregon State, WSU and the departing Pac-12 schools are in the mix for the Alamo, Las Vegas, Holiday, Sun, LA and Independence Bowls for the next two years.

–Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, ndaschel@oregonian.com or @nickdaschel,

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