Oregon State Fires Coach Trent Bray After Spiraling 0-7 Start; Beavers Become One of Nation’s Few Winless Teams
CORVALLIS, OR – The Oregon State Beavers have reached a new low in their challenging 2025 football season, prompting a significant change at the top. Following a dismal 39-14 loss to Wake Forest on Saturday, October 11, the university announced the termination of head coach Trent Bray. This decision comes after the Beavers slumped to an abysmal 0-7 record, placing them among a vanishingly small number of FBS programs without a win.
A Season Spiraling Out of Control
The Beavers’ latest defeat against Wake Forest underscored the season-long struggles that have plagued the team. Oregon State’s offense was once again held in check, failing to score until the fourth quarter, a recurring theme in their winless campaign. Defensively, the Beavers proved unable to contain Wake Forest’s offensive attack, which found success both through the air and on the ground. This performance not only marked the Beavers’ seventh consecutive loss to begin the 2025 season but also extended a deeper slump, with the team now having lost 13 of their last 14 games dating back to the 2024 season. Their last victory occurred on November 23, 2024, against Washington State. The current 0-7 start is the program’s worst since the 1991 season, when the Beavers began 0-10.
The Bray Era Comes to an Abrupt End
Trent Bray, a former Oregon State player and assistant coach, was elevated to the head coaching position in November 2023, taking over after Jonathan Smith’s departure for Michigan State. His tenure, however, has been marked by struggles. Bray finishes his time as head coach with an overall record of 5-14, including a 1-6 mark in his first season in 2024 and the winless 0-7 start in 2025. Following the loss to Wake Forest, Bray expressed his deep frustration and disappointment, stating, “I look at myself, and I’ve got to fix it. It’s unacceptable to me where we’re at. That’s just how I look at it. What can I do? I’ve got to look at it. What can I do different to get these guys going?”. Despite his words, the administration made the decisive move to part ways with Bray, effective October 12, 2025.
Roster Woes and Effort Concerns
Compounding the team’s on-field performance issues are significant concerns regarding roster depth and player effort. Reports indicate that the Beavers are struggling with a lack of available bodies, forcing players to fill multiple positions across the team. This lack of depth, coupled with what some observers and players perceive as inconsistent effort, paints a grim picture for the program. Statistics from the season suggest limited participation, with only 44 players seeing snaps on offense and defense in a recent game, a fraction of the 105-player roster. One player, Gabarri Johnson, voiced his dismay after the latest loss, noting, “Effort problems have been happening every game… I could say the same thing about people in the first game when we got down to Cal. They quit already. So, whoever wants to play is going to show (it). You’re going to be able to see it too, just how I’m seeing it on the field.”. This sentiment suggests deeper cultural and motivational challenges within the team.
Looking Ahead: Uncertainty and the Path Forward
With seven games already in the books and no wins to show for it, the Oregon State Beavers face an arduous path for the remainder of the 2025 season. The team is now one of only three FBS programs without a victory, alongside Sam Houston and UMass, and is the only team with an 0-7 record. The upcoming schedule presents little respite, with challenges against teams like Lafayette, Washington State, and others still to come. The immediate focus for the university will be on stabilizing the program and initiating a search for a new head coach who can revive the team’s fortunes. The current state of the program raises questions about its future trajectory within the evolving landscape of college sports, particularly as the Oregon sports scene watches closely.
Conclusion
The 0-7 start to the 2025 season, culminating in the firing of Head Coach Trent Bray, marks a pivotal and disappointing moment for Oregon State football. The Beavers are grappling with offensive and defensive inefficiencies, roster depth issues, and questions of player commitment. As the team navigates the remainder of their schedule, the focus will shift towards rebuilding and finding a new leader to steer the program back towards competitiveness in the demanding world of college sports news.
