Excuse me, Kansas State. Pardon me, UConn. Hey, USF, is this seat taken? No? Thanks, we'll join you.
The Oregon State Beavers became the sixth FBS team to fall to an FCS opponent in Week 1 after the Eastern Washington Eagles -- the fourth-ranked FCS team -- shocked the No. 25 Beavers 49-46 in Corvallis.
The Beavers are the first ranked FBS team to lose to an FCS team since 2010.
Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams threw for 411 yards and ran for 107, accounting for six touchdowns (four passing, two rushing). In total, the Eagles gutted the Oregon State defense for 625 yards and 31 first downs.
Much of the Beavers’ offseason was focused on the quarterback competition. And Mike Riley’s choice – Sean Mannion – did everything he could to keep the Beavers in the game. Mannion completed 37 of 43 attempts for 422 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks caught 13 of those passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Beavers defense had no answer for Adams and Co., who scored on their first six possessions. The only reason they didn’t score on their seventh was the end of the half. Then they went on to score on three of their four second-half possessions.
After the Beavers had retaken the lead at 46-43 on a 4-yard Terron Ward touchdown run, the Eagles answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard Adams run with 18 seconds to go. The bad snap on the PAT (categorized statistically as a failed 2-point attempt) made the score 49-46 and gave the Beavers a small window of hope. A pair of quick completions from Mannion gave kicker Trevor Romaine a shot at a 52-yard field goal to tie the game as time expired. But Romaine’s kick was off and the Beavers looked stunned.
This is the second time in three years the Beavers have opened the season with a loss to an FCS team. They opened the 2011 season with a 29-28 overtime loss to Sacramento State.
