It might be raining today, but everything looks brighter for the Oregon State Beavers: Issues & Answers

Oregon, Oregon State and Portland State all were in mismatches yesterday.

The Ducks and Beavers won easily. PSU went down hard in the second half after staying with Boise State for 30 minutes.

You can’t make too much out of any of this. Games involving teams that belong in different divisions have their own dynamic. It’s hard to tell who is motivated and who isn’t.

But this is one Oregon State absolutely had to have. By winning convincingly the Beavers made it even better.

OSU was in control from the start. The maligned defense throttled Cal Poly’s tricky option offense, which isn’t easy. Running a similar offense, Air Force knocked off Colorado yesterday in Boulder.

It was clear from the opening snap the Beavers were better athletically at every position, and pressed their advantage. That should be the case when an FBS team plays an FCS team. But it was important for OSU to give a hands-on demonstration -- both for the Beavers’ self-confidence and to reassure fans coach Jonathan Smith has this program moving in the right direction.

As The O’s John Canzano wrote from the scene, Oregon State clobbered Cal Poly and gave fans a reason to cheer, making this victory worth every penny of the $600,000 the Beavers paid for it.

OSU has two weeks to heal up and prepare for the Pac-12 opener against a Stanford team that is 1-2, beat up, coming off a blowout loss at Central Florida.

The Cardlnal must play Oregon next week before the trip to Corvallis, when OSU’s students will be back. Reser Stadium could be hopping and, well, who knows?

The O’s Nick Daschel believes there are at least five winnable games remaining on the OSU schedule.

OK, more links:

Scott Middlecamp of the San Luis Obispo Tribune: Cal Poly is is overmatched, and plays like it.

The Beavers blast Cal Poly 45-7, and the victory was every bit as one-sided as the score suggests.

OSU has the Mustangs buried in the first half.

The Beavers put it all together for all four quarters.

In a get-right victory over outmanned Cal Poly, the Beavers wave goodbye to a six-game losing streak.

Even without the injured Jermar Jefferson, OSU’s running game chews up Cal Poly.

It doesn’t take OSU safety Jalen Moore long to make an impact upon his return from injury.

Visit by transferring USC receiver Devon Williams to OSU’s victory Cal Poly issn’t just a courtesy visit.

Canzano believes Oregon’s game at Stanford on Saturday is one the Ducks have to win. It’s one of his 10 opinions about the weekend.

Tyson Alger of The Athletic: Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert caps non-conference play with a sharp performance.

Bri Amaranthus of NBCSN: Herbert leads the Ducks to a rout of Montana.

Oregon’s romp past Montana is marred by injuries to key players.

UO defense bullies another opponent.

The Ducks haven’t allowed a TD since the Auburn game.

Herbert flies high and the UO defense dominates.

Johnny Johnson and Jacob Breeland shine as the Ducks rout Montana.

Herbert turns to Johnson and Breeland.

The Oregon running game spins its wheels in the first half.

Oregon ‘young dudes’ step up at receiver.

Center Jake Hanson, corner Thomas Graham and running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio join the Ducks’ growing injury list.

Injuries continue to test the UO depth.

Dwight Jaynes of NBCSN: Welcome to college football, which seems to showcase disparity on a weekly basis..

The Merc’s Jon Wilner: Net failure by the Pac-12 in high-profile, national games.

Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times: UCLA was a national disaster on national television, and coach Chip Kelly can’t be enjoying this.

Oklahoma stomps on the winless Bruins.

It was UCLA’s home game, but Oklahoma fans took over the Rose Bowl.

Gordon Monson of the Salt Lake Tribune: BYU’s victory over USC is more about how the Cougars won than how Troy lost.

BYU brings the USC Trojans back to earth, and tougher opponents loom. (The Athletic)

Overtime interception sends the Trojans to a stunning loss in Provo.

USC leaves BYU with plenty to fix.

Freshman QB Kedon Slovis shows he is human in USC’s loss.

Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post: Colorado’s loss to Air Force reminds us Pac-12 football is bad football.

Paul Klee of the Colorado Springs Gazette: Who owns the state? Air Force does.

Pat Rooney of the Boulder Daily Camera: Colorado’s toughness and discipline were MIA against the Falcons.

Inconsistent Buffaloes stumble to overtime loss to Air Force.

CU safety Aaron Maddox suffers an ugly injury on Saturday.

Colorado receiver Laviska Shenault rejoins the party, but it’s not enough.

Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press: The officials didn’t beat Michigan State. That loss was self-inflicted.

With the game on the line and the Arizona State offense stuck in neutral, ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels turned to coach Herm Edwards and said, ‘Coach, I got it.’ (The Athletic)

Daniels’ heroics, Sparty’s mistakes produce a memorable ASU victory.

Michigan State had 12 men on the field for what should have been the last-minute, game-tying field goal.

Embarrassing gaffe in the last minute costs the Spartans.

The Daily Star’s Greg Hansen: Arizona QB Khalil Tate delivers a NFL-caliber performance.

Tate turns back the clock in Arizona’s victory over Texas Tech.

Arizona’s game plan works just the way it was drawn up.

Defense and the running game lead Arizona over Texas Tech.

Arizona’s defense comes to play as the Wildcats beat Texas Tech.

Central Florida pounds Stanford with 28 points in the first quarter and beats the Cardinal 45-27.

Stanford’s defense gets overwhelmed.

Jeff Faraudo of Cal Bears Maven: Cal’s prospects in the Pac-12 hinge on improvement by the offense.

Cal QB Chase Garbers helps the Cal Bears run past North Texas.

Cal does just enough offensively to top North Texas and go to 3-0.

Bears use a turnover-free offense and a defensive stand to beat the Mean Green.

Another stellar performance by Cal’s defense.

Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News: Mercifully, Utah’s non-conference schedule is over.

Utah checks all the boxes while beating Idaho State, clearing the decks for Pac-12 play.

Utah uses a quick-starting offense to overpower Idaho State.

Utah Zack Moss tramples Idaho State as the Utes finish non-conference play 3-0. (The Athletic)

Utah receiver Bryan Thompson’s credo: Be Great. Every Day. (The Athletic)

Utah’s defensive backfield tightens up.

Matt Calkins of the Seattle Times: Washington drubbed Hawaii, but so what? What did that prove?

Art Thiel of SportsPressNW.com: Hunter Bryant emerges as Washington’s next impact tight end.

The Huskies fulfill their fans’ wish lists while stomping Hawaii.

The Huskes rebound by crushing Hawaii.

It’s just one catch, but UW receiver Puka Nacua’s TD grab against Hawaii feels like the start of something bigger. (The Athletic)

Washington State has won nine consecutive non-conference games.

After a strong first half, Portland State wilts at Boise State.

Boise State’s defense paves the way for the victory over visiting PSU.

Blowout victory, breakout moments make it a fun night for Boise State.

Broncos put on a show against Portland State, outshining their flaws. (The Athletic)

Wayne McGahee III of the Tallahassee Democrat: Another Florida State loss and the same problems.

FSU coach Wayne Taggart blames his offensive coordinator.

-- Ken Goe

kgoe@oregonian.com | @KenGoe

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