This is ninth in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-10 teams, starting at the bottom and working up from my 2010 predictions. If you aren't familiar with Ted Miller's Best/Worst Case Scenario Posts, then you definitely need to check them out.
Understand: These are NOT predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction.
Scenarios after the break
BEST CASE
People thought Ryan Katz would be nervous starting his Oregon State Career on ESPN. They were wrong. Katz throws for three Touchdowns against the TCU Defense, Jacquizz adds one more, and the Beavers shock the world with a 31-24 victory in Arlington.
After blowing out Louisville at home, the Beavers head to Idaho to take on the Broncos. Things start well for the Beavers, with Jacquizz getting two 1st Quarter Touchdowns, but Boise State comes back to tie it at 17 by Halftime. That's when the Beaver Defense collapses, and Kellen Moore catches fire. The Bronco QB throws for three 2nd Half Touchdowns, and the Beavers head back to Corvallis with a 38-20 loss.
The Beavers bounce back the next week with a blowout win against Arizona State, then travel to Tucson to take on the Wildcats. UA leads 17-10 at Halftime, but the score is tied at 24 by the end of Regulation.
The Wildcats get the ball to start Overtime, and Quarterback Nick Foles quickly finds a UA Reciever in the corner of the End Zone to put Arizona up by 7. Never to fear though, as Jacquizz Rodgers runs it in from 15 Yards on the next drive to force Double Overtime. On the first play, James Rodgers scores from 25 Yards out with a Fly Sweep (ala 2007 Oregon Game) and the Beavers are in front. The Wildcats are stopped on 4th Down, and the Beavers escape Tucson with a 38-31 Win.
After getting another close win against the Huskies, the Beavers head back home to take on California. It is a rainy day in the Mid-Willamette Valley and both teams are playing sloppy. The score is Oregon State-10, California-7 at Halftime. Jacquizz Rodgers is able to keep his Heisman hopes alive with a Touchdown early in the 3rd Quarter, and that is all she wrote for both teams. Great Defense the rest of the way helps the Beavers secure a 17-7 Win.
The Beavers use three 2nd Half Touchdowns to beat the Bruins in Los Angeles, and come back home for two huge games agaisnt the Cougars and Trojans. The Beavers blow out Wazzu 34-3, and are ready for a Made For ESPN Matchup against USC.
The Trojans claim an early 10-0 lead, but the Beavers come back to tie it at 10 by Halftime. Quarterbacks Ryan Katz and Matt Barkley trade Touchdown passes in the 3rd Quarter, and Jacquizz breaks off a 35 Yarder early in the fourth to give Oregon State a 24-17 lead. USC gets a Field Goal in with 6 Minutes remaining, but Jacquizz is able to milk the clock all the way down to 55 Seconds before USC gets the ball back.
Matt Barkley drops back, throws, and the pass sails. Jame Dockery picks it off and returns it to the End Zone. Oregon State fans rush the field, and are the talk of the nation for the entire week. Even Brett Favre returning for the final month of the NFL Season doesn't knock the Beavers off of the front page.
Next up is a trip to Stanford, the only team in the way of another Civil War for the Roses. The Cardinal are able to keep it close for a Half, but Oregon State pulls away in the 3rd Quarter for a 34-17 Win.
The Regular Season comes to a close with a visit from the Ducks. Oregon had previously lost to the Trojans, but can still make the Rose Bowl with a win. Reser Stadium is filled to the brim with fans hoping that this could finally be the year.
It doesn't start out well for the Beavers. Nate Costa finds an Oregon Reciever wide open in the back of the End Zone, and Oregon has a 7-0 lead before the Beavers even realize it. But Oregon State slowly battles back, and the game is tied at Halftime. The game is still tied at 17 going late into the 4th Quarter, when the Beavers take over at their own 25 Yard Line with 2 Minutes left.
Ryan Katz throws three straight incompletions and Mike Riley is immediately faced with a decision. Punt the ball away, or go for it. After a time out that seems to last forever, the Beaver Offense takes the field. Instead of just going with a short 10 Yard Pass, Katz airs it out. To a wide open James Rodgers. Rodgers scores in his last minute at Reser Stadium, and the Beavers are going to the Rose Bowl. Orange Clad Fans with Roses in their hands rush the field, and the Rose Bowl Committee announces a formal invitation when everyone is settled down.
Before the Rose Bowl, Jacquizz Rodgers has some other business to take care of. He finishes 1st in the Heisman Voting, and is the first Oregon State Player to take home the Heisman since Terry Baker. During his Victory Speech, he announces htat he will be coming back to Corvallis for one last season.
The good news continues for Oregon State when they take on Ohio State on New Year's Day. Jacquizz rushes for two Touchdowns, Ryan Katz adds another one, and the Beavers shock the other OSU, 24-13.
WORST CASE
After a blowout loss against TCU, the Beavers return home to face Louisville. Beaver Fans sense something is wrong when the Cardinals take a 13-7 lead into the Locker Rooms. The Beavers do come back though and get a tight 24-20 victory.
After getting killed by Boise State and squeaking past the Sun Devils, the Beavers travel to Tucson to face the Wildcats. The Beavers take an early 3-0 lead, but Arizona rolls off 21 straight to put the Beavers to bed. The final score is 28-10, and the Beavers head to Seattle with a 2-3 Record. In a surprising move, Coach Mike Riley benches Ryan Katz and starts Cody Vaz. Cody has a great 1st Half against the Huskies, but Washington still pulls out a 31-20 win.
After an intense two weeks of practice, Ryan Katz earns his spot back for the California Game. He takes advantage of it, and the Beavers get a much needed 27-20 win. Next up for the Beavers is a trip to the Rose Bowl to face the Bruins. UCLA takes a 10-6 lead into the 4th Quarter, but Ryan Katz throws a strike to James Rodgers to give Oregon State a 13-10 lead with two minutes left. The Defense is able to make one final stop, and the Beavers go back to Corvallis with a win.
Sitting at 4-4 and on a two game winning streak, the Beavers welcome Washington State into Reser Stadium. The Beavers lead it 28-0 at Halftime, and the Final Score is 45-10. More importantly, all of the starters get out of the game healthy.
Next up are the 3rd Ranked Trojans. The Beavers need a win to clinch bowl eligibility and Reser Stadium is rocking. Quarterback Matt Barkley shuts them up fast though with a Touchdown pass early in the 1st Quarter, and it was more of that all night. The Beavers were able to cut it to 21-17 early in the 3rd, but USC ends up winning 38-20.
The Beavers have two games remaining, at Stanford and Oregon. They need to win one of them to get Bowl Eligible. It is apparent early that it won't be in Palo Alto. Andrew Luck has the game of his career, and Stanford kills the Beavers 41-17.
The Ducks come into the 114th Civil War needing a win to go to the Rose Bowl. The Beavers need a win to go to San Francisco. The Beavers come out fired up in front of a sold out Reser Stadium, and they take a 17-10 lead into the Locker Rooms. But the Oregon Offense can't be held down all day, and the Ducks take a 24-20 lead into the 4th Quarter.
Justin Kahut is able to cut the Oregon lead to one, but LaMichael James and Company are able to run the clock out and keep the Beavers from a bowl for the first time since 2005.