Halloween Slate Set to Test Playoff Contenders

Oregon State visits Fresno State for a Halloween matchup between newly aligned Pac-12 rivals, with the 5-2 Beavers arriving on a three-game conference winning streak and the 4-3 Bulldogs seeking to defend their home field. Oregon State brings one of the nation’s highest-scoring offenses, led by passing leader Braden Atkinson, and a strong defense featuring Pac-12 sack leader Takari Hickle. Fresno State coach Matt Entz has warned his team to limit explosive plays and keep the Beavers behind the chains, while Oregon State’s coaches have emphasized improving third-down offense and containing quarterback scrambles. The teams split their recent meetings: Fresno State won 36-27 last season after capitalizing on special-teams mistakes and a defensive touchdown, while Oregon State claimed a dramatic final-play victory in 2022. Both programs enter the game looking to build on promising starts under their coaches.