STANFORD, Calif. — Oregon State entered Saturday’s game at Stanford still in control of its destiny in the Pacific-12 Conference’s North Division.
It left looking like a team that better worry about just becoming bowl-eligible.
Sean Mannion threw for a career-low 122 yards as the Beavers were beaten 38-14 by a rejuvenated Stanford team that dominated in almost every area.
“It was one of the worst days of football that we have had in a long, long time,” Beavers coach Mike Riley said.
Oregon State (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) is all but out of the race to make the conference championship game now.
Mannion and the Beavers struggled to move the ball against the league’s top-ranked defense, scoring one touchdown after an interception and another against second-stringers with the game decided.
The Cardinal outgained Oregon State 438 to 221 yards.
“It was bad football, all the way around,” Riley said.
The Cardinal (5-3, 3-2) controlled the game from start to finish, showing more diverse looks that they have all season — just like coach David Shaw had promised after a perplexing 26-10 loss at Arizona State last week took Stanford out of The Associated Press poll for the first time in four years.
Kevin Hogan threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Ty Montgomery returned a punt for a score as Stanford’s sporadic offense busted out of a season-long slump. The victory sets up a showdown at No. 6 Oregon for first place in the Pac-12 North.
Hogan completed 18 of 28 passes for 277 yards. Stanford’s running-back-by committee approach racked up 151 yards rushing, including a 1-yard TD run by fullback Patrick Skov.
Mannion threw for 122 yards and was sacked six times. Oregon State had 12 yards rushing.
“They are tough up front. That’s Stanford every year,” Mannion said.
The Cardinal’s captivating performance brings a lot more intrigue into Eugene, where Heisman Trophy hopeful Marcus Mariota appears healthier than last season’s game on The Farm. Stanford has beaten Oregon the past two years on the way to Pac-12 titles and Rose Bowl berths.
