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.
The situation worsened for Oregon State when starting quarterback Erik Wilhelm was sidelined for the season, and Pac-10 leading receiver Reggie Bynum suffered an injury that prevented him from playing. This was further compounded by the Beavers' poor performance against Washington, which had resulted in a dismal record of losses over their last ten games.