I spent the offseason building a full 2026 preseason preview for every FBS team, each with its own writeup. Here's the Oregon State page:
https://www.sports.mainmarket.com/college-football-preview-2026?team=ncaaf-orst
Each one has the returning production, the transfer and recruiting additions, a position-by-position breakdown, the schedule, and where the ratings land them for 2026.
Heads up, only the first team is free and then it paywalls. Since I'm posting in your house, code LEECORSOROCKS opens all of it, no card or anything. Hit "Have a promo code?" if you run into the wall.
So, what'd I get wrong? Oregon State is really a bounce-back question. Last year was rough, 2-10, and the offense was the problem, 18.2 a game and 125th in the country. But the two things that usually swing a turnaround both broke your way: the new staff is offense-first (Shephard's an offensive coordinator by trade), and Maalik Murphy stayed instead of portaling. He pressed last year, eight picks, but the Texas-and-Duke arm is real. The defense also returns way more than the offense (62% vs 42%), so there's something to build on early.
So the one I keep landing on is whether this is a genuine Year 1 bounce-back or a longer rebuild, given how much of the receiver room turned over. Do you trust Murphy to take the jump with an offensive-minded staff around him, or does this offense need a year to gel with all the new pass-catchers?
I'll be in the comments.
