The Beavers went 2-10 and fired their coach. But it wasn’t all bad in Corvallis.
The lows kept getting lower with each passing week for Oregon State football in 2025.
An 0-7 start, a fired coach, off-field distractions and on-field calamities were among the many lowlights. But it wasn’t all negative for the Beavers, even in a down year for the program.
Here are 10 positive OSU football stories The Oregonian/OregonLive told this year, in order based on which ones were our favorites:
10. ‘Unicorn’ tight end Riley Williams finds magic in return home with Oregon State
While Williams has since entered the transfer portal after a season cut short by injury and illness, it was a homecoming for the former Central Catholic star after two seasons at Miami.
Williams led the Rams to an undefeated season and state title as a junior under legendary coach Steve Pyne, who lent his perspective to this story. Williams’ father had a unique perspective on his son’s athleticism, too.
9. Tristan Ti’a wants to stay at Oregon State. Can he prove he’s the future?
Ti’a’s electric performance against Tulsa had fans clamoring for the true freshman quarterback to start in the Beavers’ finale against Washington State. They got their wish, and in the lead up to that game, Ti’a expressed a desire to stay at OSU.
Whether he does or not is up to new coach JaMarcus Shephard, but having some hope for the future in the form of a talented, former four-star recruit was one of the highlights of the home stretch for the Beavers.
8. In an Oregon State season marred by special teams errors, the punter made this gutsy play
Everyone will remember the six botched long snaps against Fresno State, and Trent Bray’s choice words on national television to describe those special teams blunders. But few will recognize the effort of OSU punter AJ Winsor against Washington State in the last game of the season.
They should. With the game mostly out of reach, Winsor made a tackle along the sideline after poor punt coverage and somehow was able to force the ball loose — resulting in OSU’s first fumble recovery of the season. His irreverent perspective on revving the turnover chainsaw was a ray of positivity outside a somber locker room.
7. Discipline and resilience drive Anthony Hankerson to the finish line at Oregon State
Hankerson finished his OSU career with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, leapfrogging Damien Martinez to finish No. 10 all-time in rushing at OSU. He ended up with one more yard (2,168) than Martinez, surpassing him on a 10-yard run with 2:47 to go in the finale against Washington State.
Hankerson’s story is one of perseverance, and his love for the community around OSU was evident. The love he has for his mother — who played in a women’s tackle football league while unknowingly pregnant with him — is central to his character, too.
6. Oregon State overcomes ‘mountain of bad,’ finds fun on the other side
The Beavers didn’t start this trend, but the ever-growing crowd of shirtless dudes whipping their shirts around in the stands was a highlight of OSU’s first win of the season against Lafayette.
It was something OSU seemed to take a lesson from: have fun, even if things are difficult. The second half turnaround against the Leopards featured several fun moments, including Hankerson somersaulting into the end zone.
5. ‘I feel like he’s with me’: How a U.S. Marine’s legacy fuels this Oregon State linebacker
Aiden Sullivan steadily became one of OSU’s most important defensive players this season, showcasing a nose for the ball and ferocious effort at the inside linebacker spot game in and game out.
His upbringing was unique, growing up in a military town in rural California. Sullivan’s relationship with his late grandfather, and decision to wear his dog tags on his cleats, made for a deeply human story that resonated with Beavers fans.
4. This Oregon State football player’s journey from a Ugandan orphanage inspires joy, persistence
Speaking of unique upbringings, OSU wide receiver Eddie Freauff’s takes the cake on this year’s team. Freauff was born in a Ugandan orphanage and adopted by parents in Prineville, and his long journey to Corvallis included plenty of potential roadblocks.
A constant source of positivity and humor in the Beavers locker room, Freauff is someone his teammates consistently rooted for this season. He showed flashes of elite athleticism in fall camp and could develop into a formidable possession receiver under Shephard if he stays in the program.
3. 10 memorable quotes from JaMarcus Shephard’s fired-up first press conference at Oregon State
OSU hiring Shephard was the biggest story of the year for the Beavers, and his marathon press conference had fans ready to run through a brick wall.
Shephard’s motivational speaking style and penchant for memorable quotes should make for some fun press conferences going forward. His arrival in Corvallis and immediate success on the recruiting trail has even the most cynical OSU fans smiling right now.
2. Whatever happened to the Bronze Beaver statue? Oregon State digs up relic to rally fans
This was a fun one to write and report. OSU brought back an old, bronze statue ahead of the Lafayette game and placed it outside Reser Stadium for all to admire.
The impetus for the story was a fan’s curiosity on social media, and the urgency with which OSU found the statue and used it to bind the community together in a tough time was something special to see. The statue’s history was fascinating to learn, too.
1. ‘The heartbeat of the deal’: How a small-town rodeo star found his way to Oregon State’s football roster
Long before OSU’s football season started, we traveled to Crane for a unique and compelling story on incoming freshman tight end Cody Siegner, who grew up on a sprawling cattle ranch in southeastern Oregon.
The humble and community-oriented Siegner shined on both the football field and high school rodeo circuit, and his family was a big reason why. Through all the trials and tribulations of ranch life, love and loss, they raised an athlete with a chance to help put his small town on the map.
This is the best story I’ve had a chance to write in my career so far, and one I was proud to share with Beavers fans when I was just getting started on the beat.
