Oregon State is not altering conferences, however its head coach is.
On Saturday, Michigan State introduced it employed Jonathan Smith as its subsequent head coach. Smith grew to become Oregon State head coach in 2018, taking up a program that went 1-11 in 2017, and led it to 3 consecutive profitable seasons (2021-23).
He was named (together with Washington’s Kalen DeBoer) Pac-12 Coach of the 12 months following the 2022 season through which Oregon State went 10-3, its first 10-win season since 2006 and solely the third in program historical past.
Sports activities Illustrated reported Smith was a number one candidate for the Michigan State job on Friday, the identical day each the Beavers and Spartans had their seasons ended with losses. No. 16 Oregon State (8-4, 5-4 in Pac-12) misplaced to No. 6 Oregon (11-1, 8-1 in Pac-12), 31-7, whereas Michigan State (4-8, 2-7 in Massive Ten) was trampled 42-0 by No. 11 Penn State (10-2, 7-2 in Massive Ten).
The Spartans made a wonderful rent that ought to rapidly erase the stench of the Mel Tucker period. For Oregon State, Smith’s departure may make the Massive Ten the varsity’s largest rival.
Not solely is the convention partly liable for the loss of life of the Pac-12, but it surely’s additionally taking a coach who made the Beavers related.
The Massive Ten pulled the primary block that led to the Pac-12’s demise when USC and UCLA introduced they have been leaving on June 30, 2022, adopted by the convention agreeing so as to add Oregon and Washington this previous summer time.
These 4 colleges will be part of the convention in 2024, leaving Oregon State (and Washington State) behind because the Pac-2. Whereas the Beavers attempt to determine a path ahead outdoors a significant convention, they need to additionally discover a head coach to steer them throughout these unsure instances. This offseason simply bought much more difficult in Corvallis.
