Led by a veteran, dual threat quarterback and coming off a turnaround 2024 season, the Sam Houston State Bearkats provide a unique late-season opponent for Oregon State football in 2025.
The Bearkats (10-3 last season, 3-9 in 2023) are led by first year head coach Phil Longo, a longtime assistant at the collegiate level who comes to SHSU by way of Wisconsin, where he was the offensive coordinator.
This year’s game is the first of a home-and-home series between the Beavers and Bearkats, with the second game scheduled for 2031. Who knows what the college football landscape will look like in six years when OSU makes the long journey to Huntsville?
Game 10: Sam Houston at Oregon State
Date: Nov. 8
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Reser Stadium
TV: The CW
Sam Houston offense preview:
Redshirt senior quarterback Hunter Watson is the engine for the Sam Houston offense. Last season, he threw for 1,811 yards and 12 touchdowns, running for 647 yards and nine scores on the ground. He did have eight interceptions, however.
Watson’s is a unique and gritty journey to Division I: he started at Division II Arkansas-Monticello, then Iowa Western Community College, and last season was his first with Sam Houston. But he started 12 games and was a steady presence for the Bearkats.
Now in the big chair after bouncing around at different stops, Longo was the offensive coordinator at Sam Houston in the mid-2010s. At that time, the Bearkats’ offense was the best in FCS, averaging 547 yards per game on the way to a 12-1 record in 2016. Can he repeat that in 2025 at the FBS level?
Sam Houston defense preview:
The Bearkats had the 13th best pass defense in the country last season, but with graduating players and a new defensive coordinator, it would be a surprise to see that repeated in 2025. Still, one of Sam Houston’s program strengths of late has been time of possession, and the Beavers want to avoid being rushed off the field.
Sam Houston is, however, replacing all of its defensive starters from last season. A lack of depth despite several transfer portal additions could open the door for the Beavers to put up big points.
As with several of OSU’s opponents this season, the key will be how the Sam Houston defense comes together with all the new faces in the fold this season. It will be crucial if the Bearkats want to contend in Conference USA.
More OSU early opponent previews:
— Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X: @RyanTClarke. Find him on Bluesky: @ryantclarke.bsky.social.
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