Oregon State football has experienced a resurgence this season, and it’s largely due to arguably the most prolific quarterback–wide receiver combination in college football. Sophomore Braden Atkinson leads the nation in passing yards (3,169) and is fourth in touchdown passes (25). Freshman Jesse Legree leads the country in receiving yards (1,209) and receiving touchdowns (14). 

At 5–4, the Beavers have more than doubled their win total from the season before, and are one win away from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2023. On Saturday, they’ll play No. 24 Boise State, the highest-ranked Group of 6 team in the College Football Playoff rankings, which will be the feature game for ESPN’s College GameDay.

“Had you told me at the beginning of the year we’d be sitting where we’re at right now, I’d have been overjoyed, knowing what we inherited,” coach JaMarcus Shephard told reporters this week.

Oregon State was aggressive in its pursuit to keep its star passing game tandem in Corvallis past this year, with both players having already agreed to re-sign with the Beavers for 2027. Legree announced his new deal during Oregon State’s bye week on Oct. 23, and Atkinson’s re-signing was first reported by ESPN on Tuesday. It’s a significant development for Oregon State, which has faced questions about its ability to generate the funds necessary to retain and attract top talent. But a large fundraising effort that began earlier this year with a $24 million donation is paying immediate dividends. 

“I think that one of the benefits is it just lets people know what kind of culture we have here at Oregon State University,” Shephard told reporters in October of Legree’s re-signing. “It definitely was in the back of his mind. People asking, saying, ‘Hey, I don’t know if I want to donate unless I know some of these people are coming back.’ Well, guess what? He said he’s coming back. So go ahead and start donating. There are some wondering, ‘Hey, are other guys going to want to come back once they know Jesse’s coming back?’ Well, there’s no doubt.” 

Financial Restructure

In May, Oregon State announced a three-year, $48 million initiative to generate more revenue-sharing opportunities for its college athletes. The initial gift, $24 million, was provided by the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation. As a condition of the gift, Oregon State agreed to raise an additional $8 million annually from other donors over the next three years to match the commitment from the Valley Foundation.

In six months, Oregon State has already surpassed $10 million, and it has set a goal of $12 million by the end of this year, which would make up half of the three-year goal in less than a year’s time. The large investment comes on the heels of Oregon State’s first season in the reimagined Pac-12, which debuted this season with eight teams, including six new members. Oregon State was left behind after 10 of the league’s 12 schools departed for the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC, and spent 2024 and 2025 in a two-team conference with Washington State. Within the athletic department, the university started to make significant changes to restructure financially, with the goal of repositioning its sports teams nationally. 

In September, Oregon State hired Ragean Hill as chief sports performance and operations officer, with specific designations including NIL and revenue-sharing management as part of a complete organizational restructure. Along with Hill’s hiring, Oregon State created a three-person team that specializes in NIL strategy, contract management, future planning, and more. 

On the football field, the Beavers hired Shephard last November. The former Alabama and Washington assistant brought a similar organizational framework to Oregon State, one that the program hadn’t seen before. Shephard wasn’t the only one to make the move from Tuscaloosa to Corvallis; he also hired Alabama associate director of player personnel Eron Hodges as Oregon State’s first GM and special assistant Ron McKeefery as Oregon State’s chief of staff, a position that didn’t exist under the previous Beavers staff. 

Atkinson’s and Legree’s re-signings point to the benefit of a devoted department for roster construction. Looking ahead, Oregon State has the Pac-12’s highest-ranked 2027 recruiting class this cycle according to 247Sports and Rivals. 

Saturday’s Stakes

Oregon State has lost back-to-back games, but it is still alive in the Pac-12 championship game race with a 3–2 record in conference play. The Beavers need an upset win over Boise State (8–1, 5–0) on Saturday to realize that goal. The game has additional intrigue at quarterback: Atkinson is not expected to play due to a hand injury, while Boise State starter Maddux Madsen is listed as questionable. 

A win would reinforce the investments made in the OSU program over the last year, and continue the momentum set by retaining its top two players for potentially a bigger push in 2027. 

“We’re trying to motivate these guys to get ready for a big-time game,” Shephard told reporters this week. “This is a big-time game. Hopefully College GameDay showcases where we were to where we’re at, and they understand that it’s a great opportunity to showcase what this university is, how resilient it is.”