In an unquestionably unusual season for the Pac-12, Oregon State and No. 25 Washington State will meet this weekend for what is basically the league’s regular-season title.
It’s the brand new actuality for the once-proud Convention of Champions, which was whittled down to simply two groups — the Beavers and the Cougars — throughout realignment final 12 months.
The lone Pac-12, properly, Pac-2, recreation this season might be performed Saturday in Corvallis. Whereas Washington State and Oregon State had a scheduling settlement this 12 months with the Mountain West, the 2 groups don’t determine into that league’s standings.
For the reason that Pac-12’s collapse, the Beavers and the Cougs have labored collectively to rebuild the convention. In 2026, 5 Mountain West groups — in addition to Gonzaga for basketball solely — will be part of a brand new Pac-12.
However that alliance ends on the soccer subject, no less than in response to Washington State coach Jake Dickert.
“I’ve never gotten into, like, they’re our buddy. Oregon State’s not our buddy. They would have left us as fast as we would have left them. This is what it is,” Dickert mentioned this week. “It’s one of our biggest rivals now. That’s the way I looked at it. That’s not bulletin board material. I hope they would say it the same way, let’s go compete.”
Washington State (8-2) is coming off a disheartening 38-35 loss to New Mexico final weekend. The Cougars had hopes of successful out and presumably incomes an at-large bid to the 12-team School Soccer Playoff, and had been ranked as excessive as No. 18 within the CFP rankings.
“Our team will be defined in how we respond to this,” Dickert mentioned. “That’s what we talked about after the game. That’s what we talked about this morning. We have a commitment to finish here. That isn’t just committing to finish because we’re in the playoff hunt. It’s a commitment to finish to each other and our team. There are 50 other teams in the country that would switch places with us, and be 8-2 with where we’re at.”
Oregon State (4-6) has misplaced 5 straight and is coming off a 28-0 blanking at Air Drive final weekend.
It’s attainable the Beavers may nonetheless turn out to be bowl eligible, however they would wish to beat the Cougars after which win at No. 12 Boise State subsequent weekend.
“When you lose like we’ve lost the last five weeks, it’s never just one thing, and it’s certainly not just the players,” Oregon State coach Trent Bray mentioned.
Retaining Mateer
Washington State’s versatile quarterback John Mateer is taken into account among the many prime quarterbacks within the nation, regardless of taking part in outdoors of a Energy 4 convention.
Mateer has accounted for 340.2 yards of complete offense to rank fifth nationwide, he has 26 passing touchdowns (tied for fourth) and he’s rushed for 12 extra, a Washington State single-season report for a quarterback.
He’s the one QB within the nation with 20-plus passing touchdowns and 10-plus speeding scores.
The results of his success is that he’s producing outdoors curiosity.
And simply take a look at his predecessor, Cam Ward, who performed for the Cougars final season earlier than decamping to Miami, the place he’s turn out to be a Heisman candidate and a attainable prime NFL draft decide.
The switch portal opens Dec. 9.
Trying Forward
The scheduling settlement with the Mountain West was not renewed for subsequent season, so Washington State and Oregon State every needed to put collectively schedules with an assortment of opponents, and one quirk. The 2 groups will play one another twice, as soon as in Corvallis and as soon as in Pullman.
In 2026, 5 Mountain West faculties will be part of the Pac-12: Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Utah State. Gonzaga, which doesn’t subject a soccer crew, has additionally joined.
The brand new Pac-12 should nonetheless add one other soccer member to be acknowledged by the NCAA.