Oregon State and Washington State To Play Each Other in 2025…Twice?

It’s been a crazy world in the realignment landscape of college football. Just last season, the Pac-12 Conference wrapped up its final year of existence. Out of the 12 teams, only two were left to fend for themselves. Oregon State and Washington State, the last two standing, were pretty much forced to create a mini power conference of their own, fondly referred to as the “Pac-2”. Obviously, the task of scheduling games was going to be a challenge so the NCAA had to come up with some solution. Why not fill the schedule with Mountain West teams? That could work, let’s try it. At least it’s a temporary fix for the time being. How about we have Oregon State and Washington State play each other twice in the regular season? Now you’re pulling my leg.

What Do We Do Now?

Once the Pac-12 crumbled the Beavers and Cougars were left without a conference to call home. Two teams who’ve had on-and-off success for years were hoping that someone might take pity on them. The Mountain West swooped in to be the heroes, or in this case, the temporary fix for the current situation. Adding 6 Mountain West teams to their schedules was the best possible outcome they could’ve hoped for. The Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC all passed on both schools leaving the fanbases nervous and somber over what had just transpired. Would Washington State and Oregon State play football at all in 2024? It can’t be possible. I attended an Oregon State game back in the late 2000s and I have to tell you firsthand, Corvallis, Oregon is an unbelievable place to watch a football game. The fans are extremely passionate about their team and rarely sit down all game long. I couldn’t fathom Oregon State not having football based on what I experienced. Luckily help is on the way, and neither the Beavers nor Cougars will have to wait much longer. In 2026, five Mountain West teams will join the newly revamped Pac 12, or whatever it will be called by that point. For now though, whoever schedules these games for next season must get creative with the Beavers and Cougars.

Deja Vu

The NCAA just announced the full Oregon State football schedule for the 2025 season. Let’s just say next season will be a little unusual for the Beavers.  You could say the same thing for the Cougars as well. For the first time since 1945, these two teams will meet twice in the 2025 regular season.  This is the kind of thing you see in the NFL when divisional rivals play each other twice in the regular season, not in college football.  Sure there have been seasons when Alabama and Georgia have duked it out in the regular season and conference championship game, but two regular season games? That would be too much for the playoff committee to handle if they each won once. Maybe Oregon State and Washington State will create a hot new trend. Unlikely, but we can imagine it can’t we?

For now, it’s only a stepping stone to bigger things to come for the Beavers and Cougars. The new “Pac 12” conference is going to be unfamiliar territory, not only for the first-timers coming on board but the old-timers as well. The first-timers, which include Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State, and San Diego State are chomping at the bit to finally join the Pac-12. Of course 10 of the Pac-12 teams are long gone but the old timers from Pullman and Corvalis are alive and well. Will the 2026 season be a new beginning for the Beavers and Cougars? Both fanbases certainly hope so. More importantly, it gives them a chance to show the ACC, Big Ten, and Big 12 that they made a huge mistake not taking them along for the ride.

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