Oregon State takes on Arizona tonight, in what is very much a one-off gamenight affair, at least in anything close to recent times. Heck, its been 2 weeks since Oregon State even had a game day or night.
Games between the Beavers and Wildcats were a relatively common occurrence, and the teams played 5 years in a row, up through the 2019 trip to Tucson. But they haven't played since then, and with conference realignment, may well never meet again.
Too bad for the Beavers, who have won 15 of 19 games in Tucson.
And even before #Pac12LongAfterDark became a thing, night games in Arizona were a fairly common experience for everyone in the soon to be defunct conference, a result of the need to play at night until at least after Halloween for safety reasons. But the Beavers haven't played a night game in the state of Arizona since before Covid, and unless Grand Canyon University starts a football program, probably won't ever again.
Being 11th ranked, its a game day or night this late in the season unlike any for the 6-1 Beavers since the Alamo Bowl era, and with very few comps in their well over a century history. Also, its the opportunity for Coach Jonathan Smith to secure a winning career record for the first time ever, finally checking off another checkbox on the Smith checklist.
So once again, in the season not anything like any other, the Beavers have another game night to remember, a one time opportunity they won't get a do over on in any number of aspects.
Oregon State is only about a field goal favorite, in recognition of how much progress Arizona has made under Coach Jedd Fisch, in their own campaign rebuild. And the fact that the Beavers have been leaky at best on defense on the road, and the 'Cats, after consecutive 1 score near misses against Washington and USC, pummeled Washington State, the team that handed the Beavers their only loss, by a score of 44-6 on the same Gesa Field in Pullman that was once again a house of horrors for OSU.
That loss made this game a near must win if Oregon State is to make it to Las Vegas for the final Pac-12 championship game.
So we have everything needed for a desert night fight for the ages, well worth the Game Day long wait. So much so that (a portion of) the OSUMB made the trip, the first time (and probably the last) the band has ever traveled to Tucson.
Game Days/Nights are always the best days, and this one meets the standard. Will it exceed it?
Go Beat The Cats Beaves!
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com
Game night in the Dessert was a better headline. Really piqued my curiosity ;)