Oregon State favored by 2.5 over Cal

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calumnus
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In reply to bhector • 3:03a, 8/14/25
bhector said:
calumnus said:
bluehenbear said:
Wow. Underdogs to OSU. Have we really overestimated the talent we have in this team?

How much talent do you think we have on this team? Mostly new guys from lower levels or from higher levels that didn't play much. Rating services have them ranked far lower than the guys that left, Practices have been closed. How can you even estimate our talent much less overestimate it?

One factor in the spread might be the fact it is both team's first game but OSU will be starting an experienced 4 star transfer QB, Maalik Murphy, originally a 4 star Elite 11 signed by Texas out of Inglewood, CA (Serra High in Gardena where he won the CIF 1-A Championship). Murphy was the starting QB for Duke last year where he threw for 2,933 yards and a Duke record 26 TDs. He is a big guy (6'5" 230) and doesn't run, but was rarely sacked last year. Whether Cal can get a pass rush going and put pressure on him will be a big factor.

If he cant run he's going to have problems with this defense because they are really good!


How do we know? Because they are shutting down our offense in our closed practices?

Murphy did well at Duke last year.
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GivemTheAxe
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In reply to DoubtfulBear • 5:35a, 8/14/25
DoubtfulBear said:
Sunshine pumpers will find a reason for optimism, even if we start 0-4


Only those Cal fans who want Wilcox GONE!!!! - Midway through the season
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6956bear
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In reply to GivemTheAxe • 6:13a, 8/14/25
GivemTheAxe said:
DoubtfulBear said:
Sunshine pumpers will find a reason for optimism, even if we start 0-4


Only those Cal fans who want Wilcox GONE!!!! - Midway through the season

If he starts 0-4 against this schedule he should be gone. Coaches get fired in season a lot more often now than in the past. The transfer portal opens in December and you absolutely need to have your next coach in place.

I would bet there will be a large contingent of fans that will want Wilcox out if they lose to Oregon State. The team needs to win. Their fate may already be determined. But until it is the program must behave with some urgency. Winning is no longer just a nice thing we all would prefer. It is a must have if the program is to continue as a P4 program.

Wilcox has had more than enough time to produce a winning product. The Chancellor and Rivera are removing the impediments slowly but surely. But his program management has been poor. Game mangement was at the core of 4 losses (FSU, Pitt, NC St and Miami). Just reversing 2 of those outcomes and Cal would have been 8-4. The program has had some issues that keeps the ceiling lower than optimal. But this HC finds the floor way too often. His conference record is embarrassing.

Wilcox's seat should be scalding hot.
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sycasey
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In reply to calumnus • 7:33a, 8/14/25
calumnus said:
sycasey said:
Big C said:
HearstMining said:
Big C said:
Trumpanzee said:
HearstMining said:
Cal football 2025: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma


More like a big turd wrapped up in a diaper.


I don't get it: I'm sure you are a Cal fan, but how can you think like that as we are about to start the season?

This is the tome for optimism, while we are still undefeated!

Think back to past reasons for that preseason optimism:
  • Local guy Marshawn Lynch comes to Cal after a storied career at Oakland Tech . . .
  • SoCal WR DeSean Jackson turns down USC to come to Cal . . .
  • Jared Goff, after "OK" and "pretty good" seasons, is poised for a great junior year . . .
  • Jaydn Ott spurns the NFL to return for his third season . . .
Does Cal have a story this year that's even close to any of those?

So, the best I can do is to be intrigued, given all the unknowns. That being said, "turd wrapped in a diaper" really is a bleak assessment. If I believed that, I wouldn't make the 2 hr drive down to see a game.

But regardless of the OSU result, for the Texas Southern game, Cal should have free seats for all Cal students, and free tickets for Bay Area HS football players who wear their jerseys to the game.


The best pre-season "story" we have is Ron Rivera as GM, new offensive coaches, new S&C guy. Okay, that's not compelling enough to get casual fans to come to CMS, so we'll have to rack up some wins.

The improvements are more behind the scenes than on the field (yet), so I can't blame anyone for being unexcited. Heck, I'm not even that excited for this specific season, though I have more hope for the future.

Every year the claim is that we have "behind the scenes" improvements. People always rave about how great Baldwin, Musgrave, Spavital, Bloesch and now Harsin will be. Or why they were not great last year or at their last stop but will be great now. The same goes with every new OL coach. The only way that will be known to be true is if it shows up on the field.

The ones I'm talking about are more the restructuring of the athletic department, Rivera taking the reins of football, etc., not about this coaching staff or the players. I have no idea how good the new staff will be.
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6956bear
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In reply to sycasey • 8:19a, 8/14/25
sycasey said:
calumnus said:
sycasey said:
Big C said:
HearstMining said:
Big C said:
Trumpanzee said:
HearstMining said:
Cal football 2025: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma


More like a big turd wrapped up in a diaper.


I don't get it: I'm sure you are a Cal fan, but how can you think like that as we are about to start the season?

This is the tome for optimism, while we are still undefeated!

Think back to past reasons for that preseason optimism:
  • Local guy Marshawn Lynch comes to Cal after a storied career at Oakland Tech . . .
  • SoCal WR DeSean Jackson turns down USC to come to Cal . . .
  • Jared Goff, after "OK" and "pretty good" seasons, is poised for a great junior year . . .
  • Jaydn Ott spurns the NFL to return for his third season . . .
Does Cal have a story this year that's even close to any of those?

So, the best I can do is to be intrigued, given all the unknowns. That being said, "turd wrapped in a diaper" really is a bleak assessment. If I believed that, I wouldn't make the 2 hr drive down to see a game.

But regardless of the OSU result, for the Texas Southern game, Cal should have free seats for all Cal students, and free tickets for Bay Area HS football players who wear their jerseys to the game.


The best pre-season "story" we have is Ron Rivera as GM, new offensive coaches, new S&C guy. Okay, that's not compelling enough to get casual fans to come to CMS, so we'll have to rack up some wins.

The improvements are more behind the scenes than on the field (yet), so I can't blame anyone for being unexcited. Heck, I'm not even that excited for this specific season, though I have more hope for the future.

Every year the claim is that we have "behind the scenes" improvements. People always rave about how great Baldwin, Musgrave, Spavital, Bloesch and now Harsin will be. Or why they were not great last year or at their last stop but will be great now. The same goes with every new OL coach. The only way that will be known to be true is if it shows up on the field.

The ones I'm talking about are more the restructuring of the athletic department, Rivera taking the reins of football, etc., not about this coaching staff or the players. I have no idea how good the new staff will be.

Nobody does. The track record seems solid though you have to wonder what the time away from coaching will mean for Harsin and Rolo. What is the same though is Justin Wilcox. There is a lot of hope that the combo of Rivera, Harsin and Rolo will take on a lot of responsibility for game management.

IMO Wilcox does not need mentoring he needs to be replaced. We know what he is. A good DC that should not be leading any team as the HC.
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Bearly Clad
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In reply to 6956bear • 8:51a, 8/14/25
0-4 would be an unmitigated disaster and not even the most head-in-the-sand fan could spin it any other way. 2-2 would be bad enough with losses to an OSU team on the road that we should out-talent and a Minnesota team at home that could very well make some noise in the B10 this year. But losing to Texas Southern and SDSU?!

If we start 2-2 it means more of the same and fighting tooth and nail to make a bowl game again. That already won't cut it. But if we lose to Texas Southern at home and SDSU on the road then Wilcox shouldn't make it to October. He probably would before cleaning house in the offseason or late in the year but there's absolutely no excuse for that given the level of support that boosters, and now the administration, have given him
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HearstMining
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In reply to calumnus • 9:02a, 8/14/25
calumnus said:
sycasey said:
Big C said:
HearstMining said:
Big C said:
Trumpanzee said:
HearstMining said:
Cal football 2025: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma


More like a big turd wrapped up in a diaper.


I don't get it: I'm sure you are a Cal fan, but how can you think like that as we are about to start the season?

This is the tome for optimism, while we are still undefeated!

Think back to past reasons for that preseason optimism:
  • Local guy Marshawn Lynch comes to Cal after a storied career at Oakland Tech . . .
  • SoCal WR DeSean Jackson turns down USC to come to Cal . . .
  • Jared Goff, after "OK" and "pretty good" seasons, is poised for a great junior year . . .
  • Jaydn Ott spurns the NFL to return for his third season . . .
Does Cal have a story this year that's even close to any of those?

So, the best I can do is to be intrigued, given all the unknowns. That being said, "turd wrapped in a diaper" really is a bleak assessment. If I believed that, I wouldn't make the 2 hr drive down to see a game.

But regardless of the OSU result, for the Texas Southern game, Cal should have free seats for all Cal students, and free tickets for Bay Area HS football players who wear their jerseys to the game.


The best pre-season "story" we have is Ron Rivera as GM, new offensive coaches, new S&C guy. Okay, that's not compelling enough to get casual fans to come to CMS, so we'll have to rack up some wins.

The improvements are more behind the scenes than on the field (yet), so I can't blame anyone for being unexcited. Heck, I'm not even that excited for this specific season, though I have more hope for the future.

Every year the claim is that we have "behind the scenes" improvements. People always rave about how great Baldwin, Musgrave, Spavital, Bloesch and now Harsin will be. Or why they were not great last year or at their last stop but will be great now. The same goes with every new OL coach. The only way that will be known to be true is if it shows up on the field.

Going waaaaaay back to when i was a kid, my favorite Cal pre-season hype was reported in the long-gone Berkeley Daily Gazette about the 1968 team; that the fall camp practices were so ferocious that players were actually cracking helmets! Whether true or not, that team did have some real @sskickers on defense, like Ed White.
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Jeff82
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In reply to Bearly Clad • 9:46a, 8/14/25
Bearly Clad said:
Jeff82 said:
I'm happy now that I took a wait-and-see attitude regarding the team. I don't have season tickets, so I can decide after the first game whether to go to Texas Southern, and then decide further from there. If the season nosedives early, I can cut my losses and spend my Saturdays more productively. I hope that doesn't happen, but I felt so burned after last year, and because of what is happening in general with college sports, that I just decided to care less, and act appropriately.

Eh, I'm pretty ****ing jaded about the state of college football right now but it's just led to me not watching B10/SEC or the CFP except lightly as background filler and not every game.

But the home schedule is fine (Minnesota is a dark horse for the CFP, Duke is really solid, UNC has Bellicheck now, Texas Southern & UVA are as close to guaranteed wins as we're gonna get at this point in time, and SMU is tbd but we'll know by then since it's the last game). Plus there's only one instance of btb home games so I'm willing to let my heart broken every other weekend through the fall, it's not a major commitment.

And this may well end up being one of our final years in Power X football so if it all goes south there's only a few more years they can really hurt me. I'm all in on enjoying it for what it is until it's over and my expectations aren't very high but maybe this is the year they finally surprise me in a good way. At the very least I'm with them to the end of the ride

I just realized after last year that part of what was happening was I felt compelled to go to all the games, once I had season tickets, then was feeling like ripping my little remaining hair out because of now stupidly we were playing. The same thing happened in the last year of the Holmoecaust, when my father was buying the tickets, rather than me. I'd rather take a chance on buying the tickets a game at a time, and having to pay more if we get on a roll, than on buying them and torturing myself if the Wilcox hen lays an egg again. I just find it extremely frustrating to feel like the problem is the coaching staff, as much or more than the players. Hopefully Wilcox hiring a new staff, and turning things over to them, will solve that problem.
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DoubtfulBear
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In reply to Big C • 10:36a, 8/14/25
Big C said:
DoubtfulBear said:
Sunshine pumpers will find a reason for optimism, even if we start 0-4


Maybe a few people would, but the vast, vast majority of people here would not. And you know that.

At least now, you've explained (in other posts) the reason why you're so negative... some sort of PTSD regarding your student housing back in the day. I wish that had been better for you, really I do.

Sure, the team has been anywhere from somewhat to very disappointing the past several years, there's no denying it. At the same time, we're making inroads to get this turned around and we're currently undefeated!

Go Bears!

I'm negative about the football program because it has not given me any reason to be positive about it over the last decade. Better to be realistic than pump full of hope and get let down by October.

Student housing is a different topic, I see no reason to pay back the university for treating me as a statistic. I don't have PTSD, I'm just explaining why Cal alumni in general aren't feeling warm and fuzzy about donating.
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Bobodeluxe
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In reply to HearstMining • 10:47a, 8/14/25
HearstMining said:
calumnus said:
sycasey said:
Big C said:
HearstMining said:
Big C said:
Trumpanzee said:
HearstMining said:
Cal football 2025: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma


More like a big turd wrapped up in a diaper.


I don't get it: I'm sure you are a Cal fan, but how can you think like that as we are about to start the season?

This is the tome for optimism, while we are still undefeated!

Think back to past reasons for that preseason optimism:
  • Local guy Marshawn Lynch comes to Cal after a storied career at Oakland Tech . . .
  • SoCal WR DeSean Jackson turns down USC to come to Cal . . .
  • Jared Goff, after "OK" and "pretty good" seasons, is poised for a great junior year . . .
  • Jaydn Ott spurns the NFL to return for his third season . . .
Does Cal have a story this year that's even close to any of those?

So, the best I can do is to be intrigued, given all the unknowns. That being said, "turd wrapped in a diaper" really is a bleak assessment. If I believed that, I wouldn't make the 2 hr drive down to see a game.

But regardless of the OSU result, for the Texas Southern game, Cal should have free seats for all Cal students, and free tickets for Bay Area HS football players who wear their jerseys to the game.


The best pre-season "story" we have is Ron Rivera as GM, new offensive coaches, new S&C guy. Okay, that's not compelling enough to get casual fans to come to CMS, so we'll have to rack up some wins.

The improvements are more behind the scenes than on the field (yet), so I can't blame anyone for being unexcited. Heck, I'm not even that excited for this specific season, though I have more hope for the future.

Every year the claim is that we have "behind the scenes" improvements. People always rave about how great Baldwin, Musgrave, Spavital, Bloesch and now Harsin will be. Or why they were not great last year or at their last stop but will be great now. The same goes with every new OL coach. The only way that will be known to be true is if it shows up on the field.

Going waaaaaay back to when i was a kid, my favorite Cal pre-season hype was reported in the long-gone Berkeley Daily Gazette about the 1968 team; that the fall camp practices were so ferocious that players were actually cracking helmets! Whether true or not, that team did have some real @sskickers on defense, like Ed White.

Bear Minimum, baby!
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sonofabear51
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In reply to Big C • 6:23p, 8/14/25
With all due respect Big C, perhaps I misspoke regarding a 10 win season. But, there has been a lot of sunshine pumping, particularly by the BI staff and a few other posters the last few years, and nothing has come of it. No blame intended. I speak mainly from frustration. Cal is a family tradition. Grandpa taught Bacteriology there. Dad graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. My sisters ex did his Ph.D at Cal. My nephew graduated from Cal. Been a fan since 1969. I always root for the Bears, and always will. And let's not get into discussing the Knowlton, Everett, and O'neill horror stories. That just pisses me off royally. Good riddance to those fools.


GO BEARS!!
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Joegeo
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6:56p, 8/14/25
To me the money is betting on alt lines on both sides (either team winning by 2 tds or more). If Cal is as bad as experts think, Oregon State will probably crush Cal, if Cal is a suprise team, then it should be a multiple TD win.
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Bobodeluxe
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7:12p, 8/14/25
What a waste - think of the players that ducks and beavers could hire!

"Phil Knight, a co-founder of Nike, and his wife, Penny Knight, will give $2 billion to the cancer research center at Oregon Health & Science University, a gift the institution billed as the largest single donation to a university in the United States."
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Oakbear
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In reply to Bobodeluxe • 8:04p, 8/14/25
Bobodeluxe said:
What a waste - think of the players that ducks and beavers could hire!

"Phil Knight, a co-founder of Nike, and his wife, Penny Knight, will give $2 billion to the cancer research center at Oregon Health & Science University, a gift the institution billed as the largest single donation to a university in the United States."

Just like the Haas family, wasting money on a school of business, a achool on public policy

That money would have been better spent on a bb facility and football coaces and players. Lol
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Trumpanzee
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In reply to Big C • 8:57p, 8/14/25
Big C said:
Trumpanzee said:
HearstMining said:
Cal football 2025: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma


More like a big turd wrapped up in a diaper.


I don't get it: I'm sure you are a Cal fan, but how can you think like that as we are about to start the season?

This is the time for optimism, while we are still undefeated!


Big C, trust me I want to be optimistic. I want the good old days when we were ranked in the top 25. I want the days when we're in the top 10. I want the second coming of Jesus but I think after my 60 years on earth I have a better chance of seeing Jesus in heaven......
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Rushinbear
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7:35a, 8/15/25
First inkling? High a high school 10.4 guy? At that size?

Love the theme for the rb room: "pass protection is job protection." That will be a first.
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Bobodeluxe
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In reply to Trumpanzee • 8:42a, 8/15/25
Trumpanzee said:
Big C said:
Trumpanzee said:
HearstMining said:
Cal football 2025: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma


More like a big turd wrapped up in a diaper.


I don't get it: I'm sure you are a Cal fan, but how can you think like that as we are about to start the season?

This is the time for optimism, while we are still undefeated!


Big C, trust me I want to be optimistic. I want the good old days when we were ranked in the top 25. I want the days when we're in the top 10. I want the second coming of Jesus but I think after my 60 years on earth I have a better chance of seeing Jesus in heaven......

One out of four ain't bad.
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Beaverdreams2
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3:19p, 8/15/25
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.
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calumnus
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In reply to Beaverdreams2 • 4:40p, 8/15/25
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.

It is tough to get a handle on our Cal team, almost all new players, new coaches and closed practices.

What are the changes on the OSU side that people are seeing as an improvement over last year when the Bears beat the Beavers by a large margin?
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sycasey
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In reply to calumnus • 5:55p, 8/15/25
calumnus said:
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.

It is tough to get a handle on our Cal team, almost all new players, new coaches and closed practices.

What are the changes on the OSU side that people are seeing as an improvement over last year when the Bears beat the Beavers by a large margin?

OSU got the QB from Duke, that's the big thing.
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upsetof86
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In reply to HearstMining • 6:11p, 8/15/25
HearstMining said:
Cal football 2025: A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

How appropos, we've definitely been accused of being commies lol
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calumnus
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In reply to sycasey • 8:04p, 8/15/25
sycasey said:
calumnus said:
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.

It is tough to get a handle on our Cal team, almost all new players, new coaches and closed practices.

What are the changes on the OSU side that people are seeing as an improvement over last year when the Bears beat the Beavers by a large margin?

OSU got the QB from Duke, that's the big thing.

Yep, Maalik Murphy from Inglewood, who lead Gardena's Serra High to the California state championship and signed with Texas and then transferred to Duke where he broke their passing records. Know about him, but was hoping our Beaver visitor could tell us more about what else OSU fans are seeing in their team.
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Strykur
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In reply to calumnus • 8:53p, 8/15/25
calumnus said:
sycasey said:
calumnus said:
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.

It is tough to get a handle on our Cal team, almost all new players, new coaches and closed practices.

What are the changes on the OSU side that people are seeing as an improvement over last year when the Bears beat the Beavers by a large margin?

OSU got the QB from Duke, that's the big thing.

Yep, Maalik Murphy from Inglewood, who lead Gardena's Serra High to the California state championship and signed with Texas and then transferred to Duke where he broke their passing records. Know about him, but was hoping our Beaver visitor could tell us more about what else OSU fans are seeing in their team.

Maybe if he washes out in Corvallis he will have gone the gamut of Texas -> Duke -> Oregon State -> FCS
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calumnus
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In reply to Strykur • 10:01p, 8/15/25
Strykur said:
calumnus said:
sycasey said:
calumnus said:
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.

It is tough to get a handle on our Cal team, almost all new players, new coaches and closed practices.

What are the changes on the OSU side that people are seeing as an improvement over last year when the Bears beat the Beavers by a large margin?

OSU got the QB from Duke, that's the big thing.

Yep, Maalik Murphy from Inglewood, who lead Gardena's Serra High to the California state championship and signed with Texas and then transferred to Duke where he broke their passing records. Know about him, but was hoping our Beaver visitor could tell us more about what else OSU fans are seeing in their team.

Maybe if he washes out in Corvallis he will have gone the gamut of Texas -> Duke -> Oregon State -> FCS

Except he hasn't washed out anywhere yet. Texas landed him over USC and Ohio State, it was considered a coup when Duke landed him and after breaking the Duke record for passing TDs, Michigan and Kentucky both wanted him but he chose Oregon State where he is reportedly getting $1.5 million in NIL.
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NVBear78
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In reply to Beaverdreams2 • 10:51p, 8/15/25
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.


Why do you think OSU easily beats Cal this year?

Do you think OSU is improved over last year or Cal worse?

And specifically do think OSU's offensive line is better or worse than last year and do you think Cal's line will be better or worse?

Curious to know a Beaver fan's thoughts on these things…
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ducky23
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In reply to Beaverdreams2 • 1:14a, 8/16/25
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.


I'd love to hear a reasoned justification for why you think the beavs will win fairly easily. Not saying you're wrong. I'm just curious. Cal was significantly better than OSU last year. Did the Beavs bring in more talent this year? The beavs are also having serious injury issues during fall camp. Cal (knock on wood) has very little.

Cal had the very worst oline in the P4 last year (not an exaggeration) and still scored at will last year against OSU. Are your lines better this year? Because we bought in several new bodies at Oline and I'd be shocked if our oline wasn't significantly better this year.

So what exactly has happened that the beavs have improved so much to go from 7-44 to winning "fairly easily". Are you predicting the beavs are something like 60 points better this year?
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Strykur
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2:54a, 8/16/25
Let's stop ****ing around, if we stumble out of the gate in Corvallis, that should be Wilcox's last game as coach
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JTfromClash
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In reply to calumnus • 4:35a, 8/16/25
Murphy couldn't break through at Texas. And Duke went 9-3 with him but saw his flaws and went for the upgrade. Murphy has publicly said he wanted to stay at Duke. Make no mistake, Murphy has a gun but he is also a flawed QB. He is an upgrade for the Beavs but he isn't a Heisman contender. Will the Beavs Oline be able to protect him enough to allow him to hit the deep passes?

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Goobear
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5:05a, 8/16/25
Cal fans here have bountiful angst…..Assume all games will be lost so you can be pleasantly surprised when Cal wins games…
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calumnus
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6:27a, 8/16/25
Wilcox's only win over the Beavers in Corvallis was back in 2018, 7 years ago. Other than Stanford, Oregon State is now far and away Cal's longest running continuous series.
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Goobear
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In reply to calumnus • 6:51a, 8/16/25
calumnus said:
Wilcox's only win over the Beavers in Corvallis was back in 2018, 7 years ago. Other than Stanford, Oregon State is now far and away Cal's longest running continuous series.

I was there my son's last Beaver away game. Things have changed for the Beavers tremendously but folks seem to ignore that.
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6956bear
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In reply to Goobear • 9:34a, 8/16/25
Goobear said:
calumnus said:
Wilcox's only win over the Beavers in Corvallis was back in 2018, 7 years ago. Other than Stanford, Oregon State is now far and away Cal's longest running continuous series.

I was there my son's last Beaver away game. Things have changed for the Beavers tremendously but folks seem to ignore that.

No doubt things have changed tremendously for OSU. But this is not the same Cal team that demolished a severely injured Beavers team last year 44-7. Cal will start a new OL (likely all 5) a new QB, a new TE, at least 1 and maybe 2 Wrs. A new DE/OLB in place of Carlton, a new ILB and 5 new starters at DB. A new punter, pk and long snapper. And this will all occur on the road. And they are breaking in a new DC and OC albeit the OC has a long track record and likely won't shrink in crucial moments.

I do think Cal has a better roster. But first games (especially on the road) are often tricky and sloppy. And despite how much the Beavers have changed the prognosticators have pegged them the favorite (3 pts) . That is likely due to being at home.

So sure OSU no longer is a P4 program. But few outside the Cal faithful feel the Bears have upgraded much if at all. In fact more feel Cal went backwards in terms of talent. And they lack experience at QB which can be a big difference maker.

I like the Bears to win, but I must say I am not overly confident they will do so. This is a crucially important game for Cal. It is as close to a must win as any opening game can be for Cal.
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Goobear
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In reply to 6956bear • 12:01p, 8/16/25
Angst it is. I will take a healthy squad that is well trained and strong lines. Cal maybe less talented than last year but way more healthy, better offensive coaching and better special teams. I don't know anything about the Beavers. I could have angst about them but do not. I expect a win. This is big boy football and non performance is not an option. The entire team knows that. No angst, no excuses. Execute.
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Bearly Clad
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In reply to Beaverdreams2 • 12:04p, 8/16/25
Beaverdreams2 said:
This thread is hilarious....not because anyone is right or wrong, only just how we as fans are so eternally optimistic. We, as Beaver fans, see this as a must win game, and really, not to offend, I expect Beavs win this, hopefully fairly easily. My gut tells me OSU wins, but first game of season and all, who knows. With our schedule, I see two for sure losses....this isn't one of them. check out Bennyshouse for more... Hope to see some Cal fans at the game, should be a packed house....revenge on our mind for last year's debacle.
I'd probably mostly feel the same if I was an OSU fan; maybe not the "expect to win" but that it was a tossup at worst. From a Cal perspective this game is a must-win. Not because OSU is that bad but given their quality compared to our other opponents they're right on par with about half of them.

If we lose to you guys it means we're probably about .500 at best this year and that signal disaster for the coaching staff and trigger a rebuild. And if you win "fairly easily" then we're in for a hellish season. So yea, either team *could* win and either team you see as slight favorites I wouldn't fight you on it but from our perspective it's as make-or-break as a first game can be; again, that's our context and no disrespect to OSU
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Rushinbear
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In reply to 6956bear • 12:49p, 8/16/25
6956bear said:
Goobear said:
calumnus said:
Wilcox's only win over the Beavers in Corvallis was back in 2018, 7 years ago. Other than Stanford, Oregon State is now far and away Cal's longest running continuous series.

I was there my son's last Beaver away game. Things have changed for the Beavers tremendously but folks seem to ignore that.

No doubt things have changed tremendously for OSU. But this is not the same Cal team that demolished a severely injured Beavers team last year 44-7. Cal will start a new OL (likely all 5) a new QB, a new TE, at least 1 and maybe 2 Wrs. A new DE/OLB in place of Carlton, a new ILB and 5 new starters at DB. A new punter, pk and long snapper. And this will all occur on the road. And they are breaking in a new DC and OC albeit the OC has a long track record and likely won't shrink in crucial moments.

I do think Cal has a better roster. But first games (especially on the road) are often tricky and sloppy. And despite how much the Beavers have changed the prognosticators have pegged them the favorite (3 pts) . That is likely due to being at home.

So sure OSU no longer is a P4 program. But few outside the Cal faithful feel the Bears have upgraded much if at all. In fact more feel Cal went backwards in terms of talent. And they lack experience at QB which can be a big difference maker.

I like the Bears to win, but I must say I am not overly confident they will do so. This is a crucially important game for Cal. It is as close to a must win as any opening game can be for Cal.

I see 3 new starters on the OL and an upgrade in the OL coach. Can the other 3 replacements be worse than last year's? Our new QB is mature, at least, and has shown game management ability with a potential star in the wings. Returning starter at WR and talented newcomers (who can/will block) may be all we need. We ought to be able to find at least one good RB out of the four and they're all bigger and stronger.

DL will be at least as good as last year, as will LBs. DBs are the concern with only one returnee (a good one). But, there's depth there, as there is throughout the D.

How in the world did that QB end up at OSU? There's more to that story. In any event, their OL is gonna have a time trying to protect him. Where else have they improved over last year? I don't see it.
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