Sep 26, 2025; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers broad receiver Taz Reddicks (3) runs the ball after a catch in extra time towards the Houston Cougars at Reser Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Photos Wake Forest has discovered its technique to good outcomes, and now Oregon State hopes it could actually expertise a few of that because the groups conflict Saturday in Corvallis, Ore.
“We have achieved a very good job each week of regularly getting higher,” Wake Forest coach Jake Dickert mentioned.
Wake Forest (3-2) performed its first street recreation of the season final week and pulled off a 30-23 victory at Virginia Tech. This shall be a distinct problem, with the Demon Deacons planning to reach in Oregon on Thursday afternoon upfront of the nonconference recreation.
“I am very grateful for this recreation simply to get aware of taking a staff throughout the nation,” Dickert mentioned. “We’ll need to do it very often on this league (the Atlantic Coast Convention).”
The Beavers (0-6), who’re starting a stretch of 4 consecutive residence video games, are looking for traction amid their worst begin to a season since 1991.
“It is disappointing,” Oregon State coach Trent Bray mentioned. “It is not the place we thought we might be.”
There’s familiarity between the groups.
Dickert got here to Wake Forest final December from Washington State, the place he had been the top coach. The Cougars misplaced to Oregon State final November 41-38 in Corvallis, Ore. — and the Beavers have not received a recreation since then.
“It will likely be rocking in there,” Dickert mentioned. “It’ll be a tricky, scrappy soccer staff that’s going to be combating.”
Bray mentioned of Dickert, “His groups are well-coached. They play bodily. They play exhausting, rather a lot like his Washington State groups.”
Oregon State’s quarterback is Maalik Murphy, a switch from Duke. In his final recreation with the Blue Devils in November 2024, he threw a game-winning 39-yard landing move on the ultimate play towards Wake Forest. He ended that contest 25 of 34 for 235 yards with the one landing and one interception.
This 12 months, Murphy has thrown for greater than 200 yards 5 instances, together with a 358-yard effort final week in a 27-23 loss at Appalachian State.
Oregon State has allowed no less than 27 factors in each recreation this season, although the Beavers have been shut of their previous two video games. They fell 27-24 in extra time to Houston two weeks in the past.
Bray fired particular groups coordinator Jamie Christian on Sunday. Robb Akey, particular assistant to the top coach, will oversee particular groups.
Bray mentioned operating again Anthony Hankerson has been coping with an ankle harm.
Wake Forest operating again Demond Claiborne exited the Virginia Tech recreation with an harm, so that would go away the Demon Deacons with questions on offense. With out an harm report required for a nonleague recreation, Dickert indicated there would not be an replace till recreation day.
This would be the first assembly between the groups, and the primary time the Demon Deacons will play within the state of Oregon. The matchup was added to the schedule final 12 months after Wake Forest canceled a scheduled return recreation at Ole Miss.
–Subject Stage Media
