Oregon State-After all the conference realignment defections from the PAC-12 to the Big Ten, Big-12, and ACC it was Oregon State and Washington State that were left holding the bag for what once was affectionately called by big Bill Walton The Conference of Champions. But former Oregon State QB and head coach Jonathan Smith who had taken a Beavers program that was 1-11 in 2017—the year before he got there—to 10-3 (14th of 131 schools) and No. 17th in the Top-20 knew that it was going to be impossible to compete nationally when you were going to be operating with a budget well less than half of what UCLA and USC were going to get in the Big Ten.
In August of 2024 when Mel Tucker from Michigan State was fired due to a sexual misconduct scandal Jonathan Smith was offered the job. In spite of his love for Oregon State he knew that by taking over as head coach of the Spartans, a team already in the Big Ten, his program would have the kind of money necessary to continue what he had started. As a result, six assistant coaches left with him including his Offensive Coordinator and QB coach Brian Lindgren, his current starting QB Aiden Chiles, offensive lineman Tanner Miller, and talented tight end Jack Velling who was named to the Mackey Award watchlist—an award given to the top tight end in college football. Here’s what head coach Jonathan Smith had to say about the upcoming season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqIK4ed3CEk
Check out the Oregon State preview and projected record by Rank N File Sports here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1DSw_svLAc and read what College Football News had to say here https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/michigan-state-spartans-football-preview-2025-prediction-win-total-top-10-players-keys-to-season
Washington State-Before the PAC-12 imploded Jake Dickert was the Cougar’s head coach and Cam Ward their starting QB. But then Cam Ward, now QB for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, took off for Miami where he won the 2024 Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards and Dickert left for Wake Forest in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Jimmy Rogers now heads up a Cougar program that remains, with Oregon State, the lone two heritage members still in a transitioning PAC-12. But as Dave Boling points out in his article for The Spokesman-Review; “WSU football coach Jimmy Rogers get to the point, he’s in the business of proving people wrong.” Read all about that here https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/feb/01/dave-boling-wsu-football-coach-jimmy-rogers-gets-t/ and then check out what College Football News has to say here https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/washington-state-football-preview-2025-cougars-season-prediction-win-total-projection-top-players. As far as games go, there’s maybe none bigger for the team and Cougar fans than the Apple Cup on September 20th at home. After upsetting their in-state rival last year 24-19 in Alaska Airlines Husky Stadium they’ll be looking to repeat in a much friendlier environment.