2009 Pac-10 Bowl record: 0-1

Mike Riley lost his first bowl game as Oregon State's head coach. Two straight Civil War losses that cost them the Rose Bowl appear to have taken their toll on the Beavers, who looked uncharacteristically uninspired and sloppy in a 44-20 beating by the Cougars of BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl tonight.

Upcoming Bowl Games

Poinsettia Bowl 12/23: Cal vs. Utah

Emerald Bowl 12/26: USC vs. Boston College

EagleBank Bowl 12/29: UCLA vs. Temple

Holiday Bowl 12/30: Arizona vs. Nebraska

Sun Bowl 12/31: Stanford vs. Oklahoma

Rose Bowl 1/1: Oregon vs. Ohio State

2008 Pac-10 Bowl Record: 4-0

The Beavers improved their bowl record to 5-0 under head coach Mike Riley with an ugly 3-0 win over the Pitt Panthers. Oregon State's offense may have been inept, but their defense was inspired, turning in a dominant performance and shutting down one of the best running backs in the country in LeSean McCoy. The shutout was also redemption for the Beavers after giving up 65 points in the Civil War.

Upcoming Pac-10 Bowl Games:

Rose Bowl 1/1: USC vs. Penn State

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!

The Oregon State Beavers made history Thursday night beating the mighty USC Trojans 27-21 and handing them their first defeat by an unranked team (while holding the no. 1 ranking) since 1981. The Beavers' win gained them a host of new fans in places like Norman, OK., Athens, GA., and Baton Rouge, LA.

Here's what we know:

This was no fluke

Oregon State won this game. USC didn't lose it. A fired up Beaver squad attacked the no. 1 team in the country and outplayed them in every facet of the game. People around the country will say that USC must not have been that good because 'the Pac-10 is horrible,' but those people didn't watch the game. Remember, the Trojans made Ohio State look like a practice squad. The Beavers physically beat USC, dominating the line of scrimmage. What the pundits don't know is that no one in the Pac-10 is afraid of the Trojans. They play them every year and are not intimidated.

Mike Riley is the best coach in the country

After getting demoralized by Penn State three weeks ago, Riley did a brilliant job rallying his team. Not only did Riley put together an offensive game plan that kept the best defense in the country off balance, scoring four touchdowns; but he prepared his defense, who lost its ENTIRE front seven, to hold the Trojans scoreless in first half. Riley's team then showed remarkable poise as USC made their run, relentlessly coming after USC and making play after play without turning the ball over once.

Jacquizz Rodgers is a Man Child

They may have to bronze this guy's likeness in Corvallis. A mere 5'6" tall and 193 pounds, Rodgers ran straight at the toughest, most athletic defense in the country - AND WON. He shredded the Trojan D (who had allowed only 103 yards in the first two games) for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Teamed with his brother James, the Rodgers boys scored all of the Beavers' points.

Don't look now, but the Beavers are back in the hunt

With the Pac-10 spiraling into uncertainty, why the not the Beavers? Defeating the Trojans is kind of win that can define a team and turn a season around. And with the way Mike Riley teams finish the season, it would be foolish to count them out. But beware! A let down next week against a tough Utah team on the road could derail things again.

Note: The win marked the Beavers first win against a number one team since beating the Trojans with O.J. Simpson 3-0 in 1967.