Notre Dame Opponent Preview: Oregon State Beavers

A look at the Oregon State Beavers, who are the Sun Bowl opponent for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame will conclude the 2023 season on Friday when it takes on the Oregon State Beavers in the Tony The Tiger Sun Bowl. The 16th-ranked Fighting Irish will look to win their 10th game of the season against the physical 19th-ranked Beavers. Both teams will look very, very different, but it's time to introduce the new-look Oregon State squad.

Where: Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas)
When: Friday - December 29th
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Network: CBS 
Line: Notre Dame -6.0, O/U: 41.5

Let's take a first glance look at Oregon State:

HEAD COACH - KEFENSE HYNSON

Hynson was the wide receivers coach and pass game coordinator for the 2023 season, but he was named the interim head coach for the bowl game after former head coach Jonathan Smith left for Michigan State shortly after the regular season ended.

Hynson had been at Oregon State since 2018 after previous stops at Hawaii, Norfolk State, Montana, Yale and Western Washington. 

Former defensive coordinator Trent Bray was named the permanent head coach following the game, but he won't be the head coach for this game, and interestingly he won't be coordinating the defense either.

Offensive Coordinator: Jon Boyer, Tight Ends
Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Perkins, Cornerbacks

2023 SCHEDULE/RESULTS (8-4)

2023 STATISTICAL OVERVIEW

2023 STATISTICAL LEADERS

Rushing: RB Damien Martinez - 194 att., 1185 yards, 6.1 YPC, 9 TD; RB Deshaun Fenwick - 90 att., 500 yards, 5.6 YPC, 5 TD; WR Silas Bolden - 9 att., 84 yards, 9.3 YPC, 2 TD; RB - Isaiah Newell - 22 att., 78 yards, 3.6 YPC, 0 TD

Passing: QB Ben Gulbranson - 1 att., 1 com., 6 yards (194 att., 121 com., 62.4%, 1455 yards, 9 TD, 5 INT, 135.53 rating in 2022)

Receiving: WR Silas Bolden - 51 rec., 718 yards, 14.1 YPC, 5 TD; WR Jesiah Irish - 15 rec., 246 yards, 16.4 YPC, 1 TD; WR Rweha Munyagi Jr. - 7 rec., 143 ayrds, 20.4 YPC, 1 TD; RB Damien Martinez - 11 rec., 126yards, 11.5 YPC, 0 RB

Tackles: S Kitan Oladapo - 63; LB Calvin Hart Jr. - 61; LB John McCartan - 44; DE Sione Lolohea - 40; S Ryan Cooper Jr. - 37; NT Joe Golden - 37; CB Jaden Robinson - 32; LB Cory Stover - 30; LB Andrew Chatfield - 27

Tackles For Loss: LB Andrew Chatfield - 9.0; DE Sione Lolohea - 8.5; LB John McCartan - 8.0; LB Calvin Hart Jr. - 6.5; DT Isaac Hodgins - 5.5; LB Cory Stover - 4.0; NT Joe Golden - 4.0; DT James Rawls - 3.5

Sacks: LB Andrew Chatfield - 9.0; LB John McCartan - 4.5; LB Calvin Hart Jr. - 3.5; NT Joe Golden - 3.5; DT Isaac Hodgins - 3.0; DE Takari Hickle - 2.0; LB Cory Stover - 2.0; DE Sione Lolohea - 1.5

Interceptions: LB Andrew Chatfield - 2; S Kitan Oladapo - 2; S Ryan Cooper Jr. - 1; LB John McCartan - 1

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2024 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2024 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter