Defensive Stand Ends Texas State's Potential Game-Winning Drive As Beavers Win The Pac
Ricky McKinley // Dam Daily • Published: December 11th, 2026
THE DAM HOLDS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
Trailing 23-21 with just over four minutes remaining, the Texas State Bobcats were within field-goal range for the go-ahead score, but with so much time on the clock, head coach GJ Kinne stated after the game he wanted to go for the "knockout punch."
Instead, Ka'eo Akana drilled Brad Jackson on the pass attempt, causing it to sail high, and converted safety Hasson Manning Jr rose up for the interception. Salahadin Allah would carry the ball seven times on the final drive as the Beavers salted away the clock to clinch their first Pac-12 Championship since a three-way tie for the title in 2000.
It hardly looked like the vaunted Beavers' defense would be able to halt the Bobcats' offense as Texas State scored on their first two possessions, each with the benefit of a big play to set up the scoring opportunity. Trailing 3-0 after Oregon State marched their own opening drive for points, Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson kept the ball on a read-option and slipped undetected out of the backfield. If the quarterback had an extra second or two on his 40-time, he would have been gone, but he was run down 47 yards later by LB Hasson Manning Jr to keep the Bobcats out of the end zone, that is, until Tiaquelin Mims got inside leverage on a slant route and hauled in the eight-yard touchdown.
On their next possession, it was Jackson's turn to make a play with his arm, lofting a perfect 42-yard pass despite the Beavers' relentless pass rush bearing down, with Tyler King hauling in the bomb despite textbook coverage by strong safety Kyle Chen. Greg Burrell would dive into the end zone two plays later and the Bobcats were up 14-3 thanks to a pair of explosives.
Oregon State's defense would begin to settle in after the two flurries, holding the Bobcats without a first down in the second quarter as the pass rush finally started getting home. While the Beavers' defense racked up four sacks in the second quarter alone, the Beavers' offense finally found a groove as Kallen Gutridge and Co. took advantage of the short fields with a pair of touchdowns to take a 17-14 lead into the half.
Oregon State would tack on another field goal coming out of the halftime break, but disaster would strike on their next possession when Bobcats' safety Ryan Nolan jumped a post route and snatched the ball in midair for the interception. The sudden change of possession jolted the Bobcats' sputtering offense back to life as tight end Ty Stamey ended the drive with a 15-yard corner route for the touchdown.
Since the Beavers had taken the lead midway through the second quarter, it felt like the momentum in the building solely belonged to the orange and black, but in the span of minutes the stadium seemed filled with Bobcats' energy as the Texas State sideline erupted on the score.
The Beavers' aggressive pass rush continued to make life difficult for the Bobcats, refusing to let them add onto the slim 21-20 lead. The Beavers themselves finally broke through after tight end Jackson Bowers turned an out-route into a 18-yard reception, then backup halfback Jake Reichle churned out 20 yards to put the Beavers just inside Logan McCreery's field-goal range, who laced the 50-yard boot to take a slim 23-21 lead.
Brad Jackson was determined not to let his Texas State squad slink out of Allegiant Stadium with their tails between their legs, quickly completing passes of 18 yards to Greg Burrell, then 22 yards to Ty Stamey. Facing 1st-and-10 from the Beavers' own 40, Jackson scrambled out of a sack for a gain of nearly ten, but then gave three yards back as Tygee Hill buried Jackson for a 3-yard sack, the ninth sack of the contest for the Beavers' defense.
Facing 3rd-and-3 from the Oregon State 32-yard line, the Bobcats got aggressive. And that's when the play of the game happened, as Manning Jr rose up and plucked the ball, and a championship trophy, out of the air.
On the podium after the confetti finished falling, defensive end Ka'eo Akana was named the game's MVP for his two sacks, including one on the final drive that forced the 3rd-and-long prior to the interception.
Speaking while holding the Pac-12 Championship Trophy, HC Jonathan Smith said he hoped this is a lesson for all of the "other guys."
"This program was written off and forgotten about two years ago. Hats off to athletic director Scott Barnes, who never gave up on making Oregon State football great. To any other school out there that thinks they're going to get left behind in this new age of college football, I implore you. Keep fighting, keep striving for greatness. It's attainable."
Now let's go to the CBS broadcast crew who had none other than defensive coordinator Armando Leon join them after the celebration.
•••
Brad Nessler: "Congratulations Coach Leon on an incredible season and turnaround for your defensive unit this season. After you had immediate success at Montana State under Brett Vigen, did you have those same expectations coming to Corvallis, or are you pleasantly surprised at the quick turnaround?"
Armando Leon: "No one likes losing, Brad, myself included. But did I think we'd go 9-4 and win the Pac-12 the first year? I definitely didn't have any plans of getting in front of a hot mic and guaranteeing it, that's for sure. But it's a testament to the hard work we've put in since arriving, the culture we've established since Day 1. Coach Smith deserves a ton of credit; people like to talk about the defense, but it starts at the top and he's been a helluva teacher and coach this season."
Charles Davis: "Let's talk about the defensive game plan a bit, Coach. Texas State was generating chunk plays early, but you guys weathered the storm, adapted, and held them in check until that final drive. What was the key to the game plan against an innovative offense like Texas State?"
Armando Leon: "You saw it, Charles, hit the quarterback a lot. Nine sacks takes a toll on even the toughest competitor's body and you saw the results. That final throw? It's one Jackson makes nine times out of ten under normal circumstances. But when he's been driven into the dirt nine times, hit how many other times that don't show up in the stat sheet, and is coming off just being sacked? Everything speeds up and that's when mistakes happen. Our philosophy has been; put the opposition into long-yardage situations, then take advantage of the mistakes. We did that on a grand scale today and it won us the game."
Adam Zucker: "Last one Coach, then we'll let you get back to celebrating with your unit. After an impressive debut season, taking the Oregon State Beavers from 2-10 to 9-4 currently, with a top-50 defensive unit, have you had any other programs reach out about future vacancies?"
Armando Leon: "It would be a bit premature in the process for teams to reach out to me, but we all know in today's day and age, tampering windows are merely suggestions. But to be frank, no. Haven't heard from anyone and am not crossing my fingers hoping for a call. I'm focused on awaiting the bowl matchups to see our final game of the season. Tomorrow will come, one way or the other."
•••
It took twenty-five years and the Pac-12 nearly collapsing, but here we are! Pac-12 Champions and damn does it feel great!
If you would have told me to start the season we would get only one of either nine wins, a Pac-12 Championship, or a top-ranked defensive unit, I would have been skeptical to begin with. But to get all three, in the first year of Coach Jonathan Smith's return?
We hit the jackpot. Here's to hoping that we don't go bust before we get the chance to keep building our winnings. But regardless of what the future holds, we're going to party like it's the year 2000 tonight.
THE DAM IS BUILT, PEOPLE.
•••
|
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| Oregon State | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
| Texas State | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
|
| Q | Team | Time | Play | Oregon State | Texas State |
| 1st | Oregon State | 7:43 | Logan McCreery, 36 Yd FG | 3 | 0 |
| 1st | Texas State | 7:43 | Tiaquelin Mims, 8 Yd Pass From Brad Jackson | 3 | 7 |
| 1st | Texas State | 3:40 | Greg Burrell, 1 Yd Run | 3 | 14 |
| 2nd | Oregon State | 5:57 | Malachi Durant, 18 Yd Pass From Kallen Gutridge | 10 | 14 |
| 2nd | Oregon State | 1:54 | Zachary Card, 22 Yd Pass From Kallen Gutridge | 17 | 14 |
| 3rd | Oregon State | 7:01 | Logan McCreery, 47 Yd FG | 20 | 14 |
| 3rd | Texas State | 4:08 | Ty Stamey, 15 Yd Pass From Brad Jackson | 20 | 21 |
| 4th | Oregon State | 5:31 | Logan McCreery, 49 Yd FG | 23 | 21 |
Oregon State Texas State
Passing | Stats Passing | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
Kallen Gutridge | 18/36, 190 Yds, 2 TD, INT Brad Jackson | 23/32, 275 Yds, 2 TD, INT
Rushing | Stats Rushing | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
Salahadin Allah | 18 Att, 82 Yds Brad Jackson | 15 Att, -4 Yds
Kallen Gutridge | 12 Att, -2 Yds Greg Burrell | 10 Att, 22 Yds, TD
Receiving | Stats Receiving | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
Jackson Bowers | 4 Rec, 43 Yds Tyler King | 6 Rec, 91 Yds
David Wells Jr | 4 Rec, 50 Yds Ty Stamey | 4 Rec, 66 Yds, TD
Malachi Durant | 3 Rec, 32 Yds, TD Beau Sparks | 4 Rec, 37 Yds
Defensive | Stats Defensive | Stats
----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------
DT Tygree Hill | 5 Tkl, 3 TFL, 2.5 Sacks FS Ryan Nolan | 5 Tkl, INT
DE Ka'eo Akana | 3 Tkl, 3 TFL, 2 Sacks DT Kamren Washington | 4 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack
LB Hasson Manning Jr | 3 Tkl, TFL, INT DE Nicco Maggio | 2 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack
2026 Conference Championship Results
C-USA: 24 #24 Kennesaw State (10-3) @ Liberty (10-3) 20
Mountain West: 14 UNLV (6-7) @
Nevada (10-3) 34
Big 12: 41 #10 Texas Tech (11-2) @ #13 Kansas State (10-3) 14
MAC: 16 Ball State (6-7) @
Western Michigan (9-4) 34
Sun Belt: 28 Georgia Southern (7-6) @
Louisiana-Lafayette (10-3) 30
American: 16 USF (7-6) @
#7 Tulane (11-2) 28
SEC: 42 #1 Texas (12-1) @ #5 Oklahoma (12-1) 38
ACC: 17 #11 Duke (11-2) @
#2 Miami (12-1) 52
Big Ten: 31 #6 USC (11-2) @
#4 Ohio State (12-1) 35
thank you sir
