Editor’s note: The Lafayette College Leopards was written incorrectly and has been updated.
The Oregon State Beavers football team will take the field under new coaching this Saturday when they host the Lafayette College Leopards, an FCS opponent, at Reser Stadium.
The game marks the beginning of a new chapter for Oregon State following the university’s decision to part ways with former Head Coach Trent Bray. In an official release, the Beavers announced that Robb Akey, previously the team’s special assistant to the head coach and interim special teams coordinator, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season.
“As a coordinator, you get it going and everything is rolling well and you say ‘Hey, it’s time, I’m ready to be a head coach’,” Akey said in a press conference on Oct. 13. “I can’t wait to be a head coach. You get that opportunity…and you think…am I ready for this? And you are, and gotta trust that you are.”
Oregon State, still seeking its first win of the season at 0-7, enters the matchup as a significant favorite. As of Oct. 14, ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Beavers more than a 90% chance to win against the 5-2 Leopards, who currently sit atop the Patriot League standings.
Akey previously served as head coach at the University of Idaho from 2007–12, where he compiled a 20–50 record in the then-FBS Western Athletic Conference. His career also includes NFL experience as a defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings (2014) and Washington Commanders (2015–16).
The move comes at an apparent low for the Beavers, who have lost several close contests this season, including an overtime defeat to Houston and a four-point road loss at Appalachian State. The Beavers are averaging only 17.7 points per game, which places them 123rd out of 136 FBS teams. The Beavers will seek to to improve their rushing offense, which has averaged 100.1 yards per game, also ranking 123rd nationally.
“You train your whole life for 12 games in a season, and we still got five more. We’ve still got plenty of opportunities, I’m excited for it, and the second half of the season is a little more gettable. I’m looking forward to it,” the Beavers’ fifth-year receiver Trent Walker said on Oct. 14 in a press conference.
In an effort to switch things up even more, the Beavers also announced that Danny Langsdorf will now call offensive plays instead of Ryan Gunderson, and Rod Chance and Ilasia Tuiaki will call plays on defense as co-coordinators.
Lafayette will arrive in Corvallis after routing Bucknell 62–24 last weekend.The Leopards are led by Head Coach Michael Desmoreaux, who has compiled a 23-18 record in 4 seasons guiding the program.
For Oregon State, Saturday’s contest is a fresh start for the Beavs. For Lafayette, it’s a rare opportunity to showcase its high-powered offense against an FBS opponent. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. on The CW Network.
