Oregon State football has their usual slow start

Anthony Cassino, UW Dawg Pound: I actually predicted it on twitter, so it wasn't a shock at all. Eastern is perennially one of the top couple of FCS programs, and OSU has a bit of a reputation for starting their season slow. In typical Mike Riley fashion, they'll regroup and be a different team by the end of the season.

David Piper, Addicted to Quack: That was as bad a defensive performance as I've ever seen. They allowed 625 yards to an FCS team and only made them punt once. OSU's biggest problem was that they couldn't contain a mobile quarterback, and he kept plays alive and found receivers. They'll improve, and will be fine against more traditional offenses. But the mobile quarterbacks in this league will give them a lot of trouble. It's almost too bad that the bad defensive performance overshadowed outstanding offensive performances by Sean Mannion, Brandin Cooks, and Connor Hamlett.

Jeff Nusser, CougCenter: Not that much, other than OSU isn't a top 25 team. Eastern nearly beat UW and WSU each of the last two years, so this isn't exactly a shock -- unless you truly were convinced Oregon State was an excellent team. Beau Baldwin has built a heck of a program up in Cheney. I think we all agree Mike Riley is a pretty good coach -- they'll get a lot of that stuff fixed.


Jack Follman, Pacific Takes: Well... lesson one, do not schedule Eastern Washington, they have given Pac-12 schools fits recently. I think it is a very bad sign for the Beavers though. The last time they lost their opener to an FCS school they won three games that season and their defense looks really bad.

Jason Bartel, AZ Desert Swarm: Their offense looked good? Having grown up in Flagstaff, the Big Sky is near and dear to my heart, and this is the second time in three years the Big Sky has gone into Reser and won (Sacramento State in 2011). And Sacramento State stinks. At least Eastern Washington is good. They're the last team not named North Dakota State to win the national title, so there's that. Preseason rankings are such a crapshoot anyway, especially when you're talking No. 25. I think they'll be OK, but should finish fourth in the North.

nds500 (Noah), Addicted to Quack: This is what Oregon State does. They are mind-bogglingly bad before conference play begins, every year. Usually they rebound and win 8 or 9 games but this year might not play out the same way. The first half of their schedule is very easy but if they can't get their defense straightened out it could be a long season in a conference that is loaded with high scoring offenses.

Connor Pelton, Building the Dam:Offense = good. Defense = bad. It's as simple as that right now. That combination will result in some entertaining games week in and week out, but a bowl game will not be in the cards until Mark Banker and company learn how to defend a mobile quarterback.

Patrick Flower, Pacific Takes: For whatever silly reason, Mike Riley's Beaver teams have a knack for starting slow and 2013 seems no different. That said, this is a good Beaver team and Riley is a damn good coach. Every indication is that OSU will get back to a bowl game come seasons end.