Oregon State HC JaMarcus Shephard hopes for accessibility with 24-team College Football Playoff

In an era where college football increasingly resembles an exclusive club, Shephard is making the case for preserving the sport's competitive soul. His message is simple: talent, effort and commitment don't belong to specific conferences. 

Every athlete operates under the same NCAA rules, yet only a select few are consistently given a realistic path to compete for a championship. That's a system Shephard clearly believes is becoming harder to justify.

Why Oregon State is knocking on the AP Top 25 door

The biggest sign of Oregon State's growth may be that expectations have changed. A year ago, the Beavers were fighting for recognition. Now, they're 5-2, undefeated in Pac-12 play. 

Oregon State remains on the outside looking in, but the Beavers are making it increasingly difficult for voters to ignore them. Sitting 29th in the AP voting, behind only Iowa, New Mexico and Cincinnati among unranked teams, Oregon State appears to be one strong performance away from cracking the Top 25 for the first time since 2023.

The offensive production certainly supports the case. The Beavers are averaging 527 yards per game, the third-highest mark in the country, while their 40 offensive touchdowns rank third nationally. Their biggest calling card has been an explosive passing attack that leads the FBS at 384.9 yards per game.

Shephard has embraced the spotlight, noting the satisfaction of seeing the rebuilt conference earn national attention. With a road matchup against Fresno State looming, Oregon State will once again be expected to deliver, marking the sixth straight game in which the Beavers enter as favorites rather than underdogs. That is often the clearest sign a program has arrived.