Purdue enters Year Two of the Ryan Walters era looking for growth following a 4-8 debut campaign. The Boilermakers will again face one of the nation’s most demanding schedules, a daunting proposition as they hope to return to postseason play.
Throughout the summer, GoldandBlack.com will preview each of Purdue’s 2024 opponents. Today, we begin with a look at the Oregon State Beavers with the help of Nick Daschel from The Oregonian.
The overview:
Perhaps no program enters 2024 in a more different spot than it ended 2023 than Oregon State. The Beavers finished the regular season 8-4, nearly upsetting national runner-up Washington in the process. Then, head coach Jonathan Smith bolted for Michigan State. The PAC 12 disintegrated following the 2023-24 academic year, leaving Oregon State and Washington State without a conference to call home. After losing several key players to the transfer portal, the Beavers will look to take advantage of a light schedule to regroup. The matchup in Corvalis comes as a return trip from the 2021 season opener, where Purdue downed Oregon State 30-21.
Name to know: offense
Joshua Gray – He’s far and away the most veteran player on OSU’s roster, entering his sixth year in the program. Gray has made 44 career starts at left tackle and earned second-team all-conference honors the past two years. He might move inside to left guard this season, as he’ll likely play guard in the NFL.
Name to know: defense
Jaden Robinson – The seventh-year corner is most experienced player on defense, though he missed big parts of two seasons with an injury. Robinson enters 2024 having played in 35 games and pairs with Liberty transfer Kobe Singleton to give Oregon State two senior starting cornerbacks.
Biggest question:
The offense lost all the firepower from a year ago, from Damien Martinez to three starting receivers and an all-conference-type tight end in Jack Velling. The quarterback spot enters camp as a three-man battle between Gevani McCoy, Gabarriu Johnson and Ben Gulbranson. The first two are transfers, while the latter has some starting experience at Oregon State. It’s a new offense under first-year coordinator Ryan Gunderson, and the goal is to have an explosive passing game. But it’s a big question heading into the season as most of the receivers, while fast, are unproven.
Key newcomer:
Kobe Singleton – The Liberty transfer was all-conference last season, and he has a lot of experience (also started at Southern Utah in 2021). With Singleton and Robinson, the Beavers should be solid at cornerback.
Early outlook on Purdue vs. Oregon State
Both teams enter this matchup fresh off a tough matchup, as Purdue faces Notre Dame and Oregon State squares off with Oregon the week prior. A long flight to the West Coast never helps the visiting team, but Purdue will need to overcome that to fly home happy. If the Boilermakers hope to make a bowl game in 2024, they need to win this one.
2024 expectations
It’s really a crapshoot. If the offense comes together, the Beavers could win as many as 10 or 11 games. The Beavers’ defense should be solid. But if the offense is turnover-prone and unproductive, this could be a five-win team.
2024 Purdue football schedule
The post Purdue Opponent Early Preview: Oregon State appeared first on On3.