Blab Sports
Oregon State Names JaMarcus Shephard as Head Coach, Begins Pac-12 Rebuild in 2026
Oregon State University announced that former Alabama assistant JaMarcus Shephard will take the helm of its football program, a change that will take effect with the 2026 season. The Beavers return to full Pac‑12 play after two years as an independent, and the new coach is already reshaping the roster.
The program’s recent past was a whirlwind. In 2022, Jonathan Smith guided the team to a 10‑2 record and a No. 14 national ranking. Smith left for Michigan State in 2025, leaving Oregon State and Washington State as the only Pac‑12 members still in the conference. Over the next two seasons, the Beavers played a partial Mountain West schedule as an independent, finishing 7‑17 overall. Head coach Trent Bray was dismissed on October 12 2025, and the university announced Shephard’s hiring in November 2025.
Shephard’s first task was roster management. According to the Oregon State Athletics website, more than 30 players from the 2025 roster entered the transfer portal. The new lineup features high‑profile additions: quarterback Braden Atkinson from Mercer, tight end DeCorion Temple from Central Michigan, offensive lineman Carter Guillaume from Louisville, wide receivers Aeryn Hampton from Alabama, Xavyion Noland from UTRGV, running back AJ Newberry from Vanderbilt, and linebacker Dylan Layne from Idaho. In addition to the transfers, the coaching staff signed 19 junior‑college and high‑school recruits.
NIL compensation has also been restructured under Shephard’s leadership. Former quarterback Maalik Murphy, who joined Oregon State in 2025, had secured a $1.5 million NIL deal—the largest single‑player agreement in program history. The university’s NIL policy now distributes funds more evenly across the roster; no defensive starter is expected to earn more than $200 000 for the 2026 season. Murphy agreed to a lower, team‑oriented NIL arrangement, according to the university’s public statements.
The 2026 schedule was released on February 11 2026. The Beavers open the season on September 5 with an away game at Houston, followed by 12 regular‑season games and one bye week. The slate places the team in a full Pac‑12 slate, marking the first season as a full member of the conference since the program’s re‑entry.
Last season’s results were limited to two victories, and the impact of Shephard’s coaching staff and roster changes remains to be seen. The new coach emphasizes depth and balance over reliance on a single star player.
In short, Oregon State has entered a new era under JaMarcus Shephard, with a restructured roster, a revised NIL framework, and a full Pac‑12 schedule beginning in 2026. The program’s next steps will be measured by its results in the upcoming season, the development of its new players, and its ability to compete within the conference.
The program’s recent past was a whirlwind. In 2022, Jonathan Smith guided the team to a 10‑2 record and a No. 14 national ranking. Smith left for Michigan State in 2025, leaving Oregon State and Washington State as the only Pac‑12 members still in the conference. Over the next two seasons, the Beavers played a partial Mountain West schedule as an independent, finishing 7‑17 overall. Head coach Trent Bray was dismissed on October 12 2025, and the university announced Shephard’s hiring in November 2025.
Shephard’s first task was roster management. According to the Oregon State Athletics website, more than 30 players from the 2025 roster entered the transfer portal. The new lineup features high‑profile additions: quarterback Braden Atkinson from Mercer, tight end DeCorion Temple from Central Michigan, offensive lineman Carter Guillaume from Louisville, wide receivers Aeryn Hampton from Alabama, Xavyion Noland from UTRGV, running back AJ Newberry from Vanderbilt, and linebacker Dylan Layne from Idaho. In addition to the transfers, the coaching staff signed 19 junior‑college and high‑school recruits.
NIL compensation has also been restructured under Shephard’s leadership. Former quarterback Maalik Murphy, who joined Oregon State in 2025, had secured a $1.5 million NIL deal—the largest single‑player agreement in program history. The university’s NIL policy now distributes funds more evenly across the roster; no defensive starter is expected to earn more than $200 000 for the 2026 season. Murphy agreed to a lower, team‑oriented NIL arrangement, according to the university’s public statements.
The 2026 schedule was released on February 11 2026. The Beavers open the season on September 5 with an away game at Houston, followed by 12 regular‑season games and one bye week. The slate places the team in a full Pac‑12 slate, marking the first season as a full member of the conference since the program’s re‑entry.
Last season’s results were limited to two victories, and the impact of Shephard’s coaching staff and roster changes remains to be seen. The new coach emphasizes depth and balance over reliance on a single star player.
In short, Oregon State has entered a new era under JaMarcus Shephard, with a restructured roster, a revised NIL framework, and a full Pac‑12 schedule beginning in 2026. The program’s next steps will be measured by its results in the upcoming season, the development of its new players, and its ability to compete within the conference.
