To make matters worse for Oregon State, starting quarterback Erik Wilhelm was out for the season, and Pac-10 leading receiver Reggie Bynum was also out due to injury. Additionally, the Beavers had lost the last ten games played against Washington by an average of 24 points.
Things took a turn for the worse for Oregon State when starting quarterback Erik Wilhelm was forced to miss the entire season, and Pac-10 leading receiver Reggie Bynum suffered an injury that kept him out. To make matters even more challenging, the Beavers had struggled against Washington, losing their last ten games by a significant margin.