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College football: Predicting who finishes in last place of every conference

By Maitland Rutledge

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 24: Illinois Football head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 24: Illinois Football head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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EUGENE, OR – NOVEMBER 29: Caleb Smith #10 of the Oregon State Beavers is tackled by Tyrell Robinson #19 of the Oregon Ducks during the 117th playing of the Civil War on November 29, 2013 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – NOVEMBER 29: Caleb Smith #10 of the Oregon State Beavers is tackled by Tyrell Robinson #19 of the Oregon Ducks during the 117th playing of the Civil War on November 29, 2013 at the Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Pac-12: Oregon State

With a new head coach and coming off a winless season in the Pac-12, Oregon State is facing a tough road ahead.

After 14 seasons under Mike Riley, which ended in 2014, Oregon State has become a bottom-feeder team in the Pac-12. Gary Anderson won just two games in his first season and four in his second before resigning in the middle of the 2017 season. Last year the team won just one game and went winless in conference play.

The Beavers will now enter the Jonathan Smith era. Fortunately, the new head coach has some key players coming back. Quarterback Jake Luton started the first four games last season before being injured and threw for over 800 yards and four touchdowns. Leading receiver Noah Togiai and the team’s best defensive backs David Morris and Jalen Moore are also returning.

Unfortunately, the team is losing leading rusher Ryan Nall and defensive leader Manase Hungalu at linebacker, who received Pac-12 honorable mention. While Luton was the starter last year before he got injured, Darrel Garretson filled in well. He threw for 1,465 and six touchdowns. Losing him means the Beavers will not have that great of a capable backup quarterback if Luton does not perform well or is injured again.

With a few new faces on both sides of the ball and a first-time head coach, Oregon State could have a difficult season, especially in Pac-12 play. The team has two winnable non-conference games against Southern Utah and Nevada, but those might be their only wins. One conference win seems possible, but even that appears to be a stretch. At the most, this is a 3-9 team.