Oregon State football early opponent preview: Tulsa

Tulsa has one of the smallest student populations in FBS at just 3,559 in 2023 — roughly 10% of

Oregon State

’s enrollment. Their meeting on Nov. 15 will be the penultimate game of the Beavers’ regular season.

The Golden Hurricane have punched above their weight over the years, pulling the occasional upset — like in 2010 over Notre Dame or a 28-point comeback win over UTSA last season.

But can Tulsa turn a corner and actually compete under new coach Tre Lamb? It has just three winning seasons in the past 12 years, including the shortened COVID season, and went 3-9 in 2024. Like other, small programs, it has its star players poached year after year in the transfer portal.

Despite the travel challenges to Oklahoma, this is a game Oregon State should be heavily favored in.

Game 11: Oregon State at Tulsa

Date:

Nov. 15

Time:

TBD

Location:

Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium — Tulsa, Oklahoma

TV:

TBD

Tulsa offense preview:

Kirk Francis struggled at times under center for the Golden Hurricane last season, losing his job at one point, but he is back as the likely starter. Weapons out wide include Western Carolina transfer Zion Booker, Micah Tease from Texas A&M, and Mekhi Miller from Missouri.

A pair of transfers are expected to lead the running back room, too: Rickey Hunt Jr. (Ohio) and Ajay Allen (FIU). And an offensive line which struggled to protect Francis last season has been remade with incoming transfers.

Nine games of tape should help the Beavers scout out this version of the Golden Hurricane offense, but this is one of those matchups where it would be better for OSU to focus more on itself.

Tulsa defense preview:

The defensive side of the ball was a major reason why Tulsa finished 3-9. Allowing nearly 42 points per game was somehow only second-to-last in FBS (Kent State, 44.08 points per game).

Maalik Murphy and company should have a field day, so long as the Beavers’ offense doesn’t come out sluggish on the road. Tulsa was dead last in passing yards allowed last year, and while it added corners in the portal, that is a steep hill to climb.

Trying to get after Murphy will be former Florida State edge rusher Byron Turner Jr., who disappointed in three seasons with the Seminoles but will be a featured player for Tulsa.

More OSU early opponent previews:

Game 1: California

Game 2: Fresno State

Game 3: Texas Tech

Game 5: Houston

Game 6: Appalachian State

Game 7: Wake Forest

Game 8: Lafayette

Games 9/12: Washington State

Game 10: Sam Houston State

—

Ryan Clarke

covers the Oregon State Beavers for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at RClarke@Oregonian.com or on Twitter/X:

@RyanTClarke

. Find him on Bluesky:

@ryantclarke.bsky.social

.

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