© Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
The Oregon State football program is parting ways with head coach Trent Bray. The team announced his firing soon after a blowout loss to Wake Forest.
Bray was in just his second season leading the Beavers following Jonathan Smith’s surprise departure for Michigan State. His team was winless in the 2025 campaign.
Bray served as defensive coordinator on Smith’s staff in 2022 and 2023. He was promoted when the head coach bailed for the Big Ten.
Unfortunately, he was thrust into an unwinnable situation.
Oregon State was left behind in the PAC 12’s collapse. It finds itself at a major disadvantage in terms of recruiting and finances.
With that said, Bray was able to go 5-7 in his debut. Year 2 has been much different.
Oregon State football is struggling.
The Beavers are currently 0-7 following a 39-14 home loss to Wake Forest. They’ve been beaten by at least two scores in five of seven contests.
Bray will not be given the opportunity to end the drought. He was fired before a game against Lafayette, which ironically, could be the only matchup the Beavers are favored in over the remainder of the season.
Sources: Oregon State has fired Trent Bray after an 0-7 start.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 12, 2025
Oregon State boosters reportedly played a large role in that decision. They’re said to be funding Trent Bray’s buyout in full.
“The buyout for the remainder of Coach Bray’s contract will be paid exclusively using donor-generated funds,” the school wrote in a statement. That number is expected to fall somewhere in the $4 million range, though some costs could be offset should he land a new job.
Why was Trent Bray fired?
The on-field results speak for themselves. Not only were the Beavers 0-7 through seven games, but they were largely uncompetitive in the majority of those setbacks.
Off-the-field issues reportedly played a role, too, though. Bray lost the Oregon State locker room due to its lack of success.
From the Statesman Journal:
Concerns of players quitting on the staff and lacking effort were shared in the postgame press conference and, apparently, in the Oregon State locker room as early as the first game.
“To be honest with you, effort problems have been happening every game,” backup quarterback Gabarri Johnson said. “I can say the same thing about the first game when we got down to Cal, they quit already…”
When asked about players quitting on the team or effort problems, linebacker Aiden Sullivan was short in his response.
“I can’t answer that, I’m sorry,” Sullivan said.
Oregon State football players accused teammates of giving up on the staff as early as the first game. Trent Bray had lost control from the start.
The team’s play on the field would lead one to believe that was the case as the Beavers have been outscored by 125 points so far this year.
Donors and administrators recognized the issues. They wasted no time in finding a solution. The program will soon launch a national coaching search to find Bray’s replacement.