Oregon State’s night unraveled in stunning fashion on Friday at Reser Stadium. The Beavers, who led 24-10 well into the fourth quarter, watched their advantage vanish and ultimately fell 27-24 in overtime to Washington State. The loss dropped them to 0-5 on the season, while the Cougars improved to 4-0.

Head coach Trent Bray was visibly frustrated as he spoke with reporters afterward, emphasizing how close the team was to a breakthrough. “We dominated that game until the last six minutes, and it flipped. We’ve got to finish,” he said.

Quarterback Maalik Murphy’s injured hand kept him from taking snaps under center, forcing Oregon State to rely on Gabarri Johnson on the late-game sneak attempt. Special teams also proved costly once again, with two field goals blocked in key moments. Bray admitted the failures weren’t about scheme but execution. “Four guys could have blocked it. We’ve got to blow up and protect it. That was really disappointing,” he said.

In overtime, Bray opted to go for it on fourth-and-one instead of attempting a field goal, a decision he defended with analytics but admitted weighed heavily on his mind afterward.

This marks the third time this season that breakdowns on special teams have swung the outcome. Bray said it comes down to “pride in your job,” noting that starters on both offense and defense also play on special teams.

Despite the rough start, he wouldn’t speculate about potential staff changes or conversations with athletic director Scott Barnes. “I can’t answer that right now with any kind of truth or knowledge because I’m in the heat of the moment,” Bray said.

He expressed more concern for his players than for himself. “They’ve worked hard, stayed positive, and played a really good football game against a really good team. To let it slip away at the end, I’m disappointed for them, not myself.”

Oregon State’s defense held Washington State to just seven yards in the third quarter but gave up 180 in the fourth as the Cougars rallied. Miscues late, including a dropped pass that could have sealed the game, only compounded the collapse.

Running back Cornell Hatcher Jr. was one of the few bright spots, powering through with tough runs that helped the Beavers build their lead. Kicker Caleb Ojeda’s injury forced Cameron Smith into late action, adding to the team’s challenges.

Looking ahead, Oregon State will try to regroup on the road against Appalachian State (2-1) as they search for their first win of the season.