CORVALLIS — California handed Oregon State a 34-15 defeat at Reser Stadium on Saturday night, a matchup that highlighted two teams adjusting to life after the dissolution of the Pac-12. Despite optimism surrounding new quarterback Maalik Murphy, the Beavers never found consistent rhythm and fell behind early, unable to recover against a dynamic Golden Bears offense.
Oddsmakers had projected a close contest, but turnovers, stalled drives, and missed opportunities turned what was billed as a toss-up into a lopsided final score.
First Quarter: Cal Strikes Quickly
Oregon State deferred after winning the toss, giving California the opening possession. From the start, Bears quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele set the tone with a 35-yard completion that moved Cal into Beaver territory. Just minutes later, he connected with Mason Mini for a 19-yard touchdown, putting Cal up 7-0.
Oregon State’s opening drive sputtered in a three-and-out, and the struggles continued when Cal capitalized on a penalty for too many men on the field during a punt return. The miscue extended the Bears’ drive, and Sagapolutele quickly punished the mistake by hitting Trond Grizzell for a 32-yard score.
By the end of the first quarter, Cal led 14-0, while Oregon State was still looking for its first sustained offensive push.
Second Quarter: Missed Chances Before the Half
The Beavers’ offense briefly showed life when Murphy connected with Trent Walker for 30 yards early in the quarter. But the drive stalled, and Oregon State had to punt.
Cal extended its lead to 14-3 on a booming 53-yard field goal from Caleb Ojeda, one of the highlights of the evening for the Bears. The Beavers’ best chance to close the gap before halftime came with a promising drive, but a costly fumble by Bryce Caufield gave the ball back to California.
The Bears added a 47-yard field goal as the clock expired in the first half, sending both teams to the locker room with Cal up 17-3.
Third Quarter: Bears Build the Cushion
Out of the break, California quickly regained momentum. A play-action pass on 2nd and goal set up Sagapolutele for a 4-yard touchdown strike, extending the lead to 24-3.
Oregon State attempted to respond. Murphy connected on consecutive completions — 19 yards to Card and 29 yards to Walker — moving into the red zone. But a pass interference penalty bailed out Murphy after a near pick-six, and the drive ended with a short touchdown run by Anthony Hankerson. The Beavers’ two-point try failed, leaving the score at 24-9.
Still, turnovers haunted Oregon State. Murphy was intercepted by Masses, who returned it to the OSU 2-yard line. Cal easily punched it in for another touchdown, pushing the margin to 31-9 late in the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter: Too Little, Too Late
The Beavers finally found the end zone early in the fourth quarter when Murphy scrambled for a short touchdown run. But another failed two-point attempt left the score at 31-15.
Any hope of a rally evaporated minutes later when Oregon State punted deep from its own 16-yard line on 4th and 6. Cal closed out the contest with a 23-yard field goal in the final seconds, sealing the 34-15 win.
Key Performers
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Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele: The freshman signal-caller looked composed throughout, throwing multiple touchdowns and stretching Oregon State’s secondary with deep completions.
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OSU QB Maalik Murphy: In his first start for the Beavers, Murphy flashed arm strength and mobility but finished with two interceptions and struggled with consistency.
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Cal RB Anthony Hankerson: Provided balance for the Bears’ offense, punching in a rushing touchdown and keeping Oregon State’s defense off balance.
What Went Wrong for Oregon State
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Slow Start: Falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter forced Oregon State into catch-up mode all night.
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Turnovers: Murphy’s interception in the third quarter, returned nearly for a touchdown, was the backbreaker.
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Inefficiency in the Red Zone: Two failed two-point conversion attempts and stalled drives undercut momentum.
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Defensive Breakdowns: Cal’s ability to convert big plays early kept OSU from dictating tempo.
Injuries and Absences
Oregon State was without key defensive tackle Tevita Pome’e and cornerback Exodus Ayers, their No. 1 corner on the depth chart. Their absence showed as Cal’s passing game picked apart the Beaver secondary. On a positive note, tight end Jackson Bowers, a transfer from BYU, returned in full pads after missing camp time with injury.
Broader Implications
For Oregon State, the loss raises questions about its transition in the post-Pac-12 era. Murphy showed glimpses of potential but also the growing pains of a first-year starter. The Beavers’ defense, historically a strength, will need to regroup quickly with conference play looming.
For California, the win validates optimism around Sagapolutele, who guided the Bears with poise. If their defense continues to capitalize on turnovers, Cal could be a difficult matchup throughout the season.
How Fans Watched
The game, broadcast on ESPN as part of a late-night doubleheader, drew strong regional interest. Fans without cable were able to stream via DirecTV’s free trial, Fubo, or ESPN’s streaming package, which bundles ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, and more.
Final Thoughts
The 34-15 loss to Cal underscored both the potential and the problems for Oregon State. The Beavers flashed moments of explosiveness, but inconsistency, penalties, and turnovers made the game feel out of reach long before the final whistle.
If Murphy and the offense can settle into a rhythm, and the defense can avoid costly breakdowns, Oregon State still has the pieces to rebound. But against a sharp Cal squad, the Beavers’ shortcomings were exposed in front of a restless home crowd at Reser Stadium.
Final: California 34, Oregon State 15.
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