Every college football program lives for that roar. Something happens when the crowd is shaking the bleachers, the band is playing loudly, and the energy is feeding the players. Now, imagine running out in front of empty seats. It’d feel like a spring scrimmage and not a Saturday showdown. Something like this is likely to unravel at Reser Stadium tonight. The Oregon State Beavers are going to clash with the Lafayette Leopards. Now the Beavers are in a tough spot, cruising with a 0-7 record so far. A no-win streak like that led to the firing of head coach Trent Bray.

On the other side, the hungry Leopards from the FCS rattled off a solid 5-2 run. With all this in mind, the fans’ hope for the Beavers is really less. So, less than they might hope for, a no-support conundrum from their fan base. But the Beavers are trying their best to pull a crowd. “Tickets going for as low as $1 (before fees) on some resale sites for Oregon State football vs. Lafayette tonight,” Beavers beat reporter Ryan Clarke posted on X. “0-7 team, fired coach, FCS opponent, late kickoff, all not a recipe for a packed house.”

The Beavers have been getting hammered week after week, including a brutal 39-14 home loss to Wake Forest. The team was shut out through three quarters and averaged only 3.17 yards per carry. A loss like that definitely doubles down on fans who are supporting a program. After that performance, some fans even resorted to paper bags over their heads in embarrassment. Then comes Trent Bray’s firing. The former HC, who first stepped in as a defensive coordinator, couldn’t really turn things around, sitting at 5-14 overall.

His firing was abrupt but not unexpected. But there is a lot of support for the 43-year-old who gave his all for the program. Many fans felt Bray was set to fail from the start. After Jonathan Smith left Oregon State for Michigan State, the program lost not just its coach, but also its stability and recruiting momentum. That’s why there is dissatisfaction among the fans and the players. Star wideout Trent Walker opined, “I’m pretty pissed about it” about Oregon State coach’s firing.

But the program is still looking for its first win this season with seven weeks down. Tensions were already high after a close 27-23 loss at Appalachian State, but instead of Trent Bray, special teams coach Jamie Christian got the axe first. But then the loss against Wake Forest was the final straw. “I’m frustrated. I’m disappointed. I look at myself, and I’ve got to fix it,” Bray said. “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 differently to get these guys going?” The frustration was pretty clear that the program needed a major revamp. But then, mismanagement of NIL was also one of the reasons for their financial demise.

Trent Bray’s firing didn’t solve Oregon State’s never-ending woes

Oregon State’s troubles didn’t end with Trent Bray’s firing after the program started 0-7 this season. This time, the Beavers’ front office took the heat for a failed program. The athletic department saw another shakeup when Associate Athletic Director Diana Ulrey resigned from her compliance and sports services role. Ulrey had been a key figure since 2013, ensuring NCAA compliance and supporting student-athlete services.

This is a major reality check for Oregon State that the program is failing. Fans and insiders are calling for even more leadership changes as Oregon State faces a tough road ahead. Many of whom want OSU athletic director Scott Barnes to get fired. For now, interim coach Robb Akey may be holding the fort, but his defensive-minded approach isn’t bearing any fruit. The unit has given up too many chunk plays through the air. Allowing 18 touchdown passes through the first seven games.

On top of that, the mass exodus of players has left the program in shock. Play-wise, they have just been horrible. The Beavers have averaged just 18.3 points per game while allowing over 181 passing yards on defense. They can’t even throw too much money at hiring someone new because of Trent Bray’s buyout. Bray had three years left on his contract, which makes his buyout a little more than $4M. But the school plans to pay the debt using donor-generated funds. The program hopes that a win against Lafayette might change the fate. But will it?