Oregon State could soon be putting a sponsored patch on its football jerseys, and the idea may extend well beyond the football field.
Athletic director Kevin Griffin said he has meetings set for Thursday and Friday with potential partners about a jersey patch that would begin in the second half of the football season and carry across the rest of the program’s teams.
“There’s absolutely conversations that are taking place and folks are being incredibly creative about this,” Griffin said. “(I) had a nice long talk with some executives from Learfield about this (Monday). If we find the jersey patch partner, not only will they have their logo emblazoned on all of our jerseys and kits and uniforms across our 16 sports, but they’ll also have an important relationship we hope that supports our student-athletes in other ways, like real and true NIL deals, work in the community and different types of opportunities for career advancement.”
The timing comes with the Beavers off to a strong start. Oregon State is 3-2 overall and 1-0 in Pac-12 play, and has emerged as one of the more surprising teams in college football so far. Braden Atkinson leads the nation in passing, while freshman receiver Jesse Legree has helped power the No. 10 total offense in the country.
The next test comes Saturday against San Diego State at Reser Stadium in Corvallis. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. PT.
Oregon State is listed as a 13.5-point favorite. The game will air on USA, with radio coverage on KEX 1190 in Portland and KEJO 1240 and 93.7 in Corvallis.
In Other News...
Oregon State Suddenly Has A Secondary Problem Before A Crucial Home Game
Oregon State heads into Saturdays home game against San Diego State with a growing concern in the secondary, where cornerback Isaiah Houi is listed as questionable. With several other Beavers already dealing with injury-related availability issues, the possibility of Houi sitting would leave the defense stretched thin at a spot that cannot afford much margin for error at Reser Stadium.
The staffing issue has forced Oregon State to look for answers elsewhere, including moving safety Sailasa Vadrawale III into cornerback reps as a contingency. It is the kind of late-week shuffle that can ripple through a game plan, especially with a crucial matchup looming and both teams still sorting through updated injury reports before kickoff on October 10 in Corvallis. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Has A Chance To Turn This Homecoming Into Something Bigger
Oregon State gets a familiar kind of chance this week, coming home after back-to-back road wins and a solid start to its Pac-12 schedule. The Beavers are 3-2 overall after opening conference play with a win over Colorado State, and head coach JaMarcus Shephard has made no secret of how much he welcomes the return to Corvallis after a stretch spent away from home.
San Diego State arrives at 2-3, bringing a defense that still has to be accounted for, especially with Djibril Abdou Rahman on the roster. For Oregon State, though, the broader interest goes beyond just the matchup. Freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree has already drawn attention with his place on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, a sign that the Beavers may have more than one reason to believe this homecoming could become something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Could Catch San Diego State At The Perfect Time
Oregon State heads into its matchup with San Diego State with a chance to catch the Aztecs at an awkward moment. The roster is being thinned by injuries, the defense is still adjusting after losing most of its starters from last season, and the offensive side has not found much easy rhythm either. Quarterback Jayden Denegal has dealt with mechanical issues and a dip in confidence, which only adds pressure on a group already trying to settle in around him.
There is still some presence on the other side of the ball, especially with edge rusher Djibril Rahman emerging as a defensive leader, but the broader picture is one of uncertainty for San Diego State. For Oregon State, that matters because a team with this much instability can be vulnerable early, especially if the Beavers are able to push pace and make the Aztecs sort through problems on both offense and defense before they find any footing. [Read more 🡒]