Oregon State Faces Tough 2026 Football Schedule

New head coach JaMarcus Shephard takes over a Beavers team looking to bounce back from a 2-10 season.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Oregon State's 2026 football schedule features a challenging non-conference slate, including road games against Houston and Boise State, as well as a home matchup against FCS powerhouse Montana. The Beavers will need to navigate a tough Pac-12 conference schedule, with key home games against San Diego State and Washington State, if they hope to return to bowl contention.

Why it matters

Oregon State is starting fresh with a new head coach, and this 2026 schedule will be a major test for the program as it looks to rebound from a disappointing 2-10 season. The Beavers will need to find a way to win some of their tougher non-conference games and then capitalize on home-field advantage in Pac-12 play to have a chance at reaching a bowl game.

The details

The Beavers open the season with a road trip to face Houston, followed by home games against Texas Tech and FCS powerhouse Montana. Oregon State then hits the road again to take on UTEP and Fresno State before returning home to host San Diego State and Washington State. The Beavers have a bye week before closing out the season with games against Texas State, Boise State, Utah State, and a second matchup with Washington State.

  • The 2026 Oregon State football season kicks off on September 5th.
  • The Beavers' Pac-12 conference schedule begins on October 3rd against Colorado State.
  • Oregon State's regular season concludes on November 28th with a road game against Washington State.

The players

JaMarcus Shephard

The new head coach of the Oregon State Beavers, tasked with turning around the program after a 2-10 season in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Pete Fiutak, Author (collegefootballnews.com)

What’s next

The Beavers will need to get off to a strong start in their non-conference schedule to build momentum heading into Pac-12 play. A win over Colorado State in their conference opener could set the tone for the rest of the season.

The takeaway

Oregon State faces a daunting task in 2026 as they look to rebound under a new head coach. The Beavers' challenging non-conference slate and tough Pac-12 schedule will test their mettle, but a successful season could put the program back on the map in the conference.