Last time Oregon State played...
Aug. 28, 2008 at Palo Alto, CA - Stanford 36, Oregon State 28
OREGON STATE HAD the first two downs figured out, they just couldn't shut the door on third. Lyle Moevao threw for three TDs, Victor Butler served early notice he could be a Pac-10 defensive force and Sammie Stroughter topped the century mark in receiving. But the offense settled for field goals twice, an INT proved disastrous and the defense continued a fall camp trend -- giving up the big play.

But the Beavs -- improbably -- still had a chance with under two minutes remaining. Indeed, 47-yards and a two-point conversion separated them from deadlocking the score and forcing overtime ... more from BF.com

Last time Penn State played...
Dec. 30, 2008 at University Park, PA - Penn State 66, Coastal Carolina 10
Joe Paterno jogged out of the Penn State tunnel instead of his usual routine — running out in front of his team.

It was something new, a theme throughout Saturday's 66-10 win over Coastal Carolina at Beaver Stadium.

Penn State was powered by all sorts of new toys, including a "three-headed monster" at running back ... more from FightOnState.com

Series history (First meeting).
This is the first meeting between Oregon State and Penn State. Oregon State is the only Pacific-10 Conference team Penn State has not faced on the football field. It is a one and done deal.

This is the first time Oregon State has played a Big Ten Conference foe since 1986 at Michigan. Overall the program is 13-27 vs. the Big Ten (1-0 vs. Illinois, 2-1 vs. Indiana, 5-7 vs. Iowa, 0-4 vs. Michigan, 2-7 vs. Michigan State, 1-2 vs. Minnesota, 1-3 vs. Northwestern, 0-2 vs. Ohio State, 1-0 vs. Purdue and 0-1 vs. Wisconsin).

The program’s next scheduled Big Ten opponent, as of Sept. 1, 2008, is Sept. 10, 2011 at Wisconsin. The Badgers return to Corvallis 2013 and Minnesota plays a home-and-home series starting in 2014.

The Nittany Lions have an all-time record of 22- 11 vs. current members of the Pac-10 (Arizona: 1-0; Arizona State 1-0; California 3-1; Oregon 3-1; Southern California 4-4; Stanford 4-1; UCLA 2-4; Washington 2-0; Washington State 2-0).

Penn State connections.

• Oregon State sophomore linebacker Keith Pankey and freshman tight end Kevin Pankey are the twin sons of former Nittany Lion standout Irv Pankey (1977-79. Keith Pankey is a starting outside linebacker for the Beavers.
  
• Oregon State Director of Athletics, Bob DeCarolis, is a native of Philadelphia and graduated from Bloomsburg, where he played baseball and football. He has purchased 75 tickets for family and friends.
  
• Oregon State band director Brad Townsend is a graduate of Penn State. He will lead the Nittany Lion marching band in the playing of the National Anthem.

A long ways from home.
The Beavers make a trip to the east coast time zone for the third time in four years Saturday. Oregon State played at Cincinnati last year and Louisville in 2005, both losses.

This year’s trip will be one of the longest in modern school history, considering a one hour bus ride to the Eugene airport, a five-hour flight (2,294 miles from Corvallis to State College) and another two-hour (approx.) bus ride from Harrisburg, Pa.

2-0 in Pennsylvania.
Oregon State has played two games in the state of Pennsylvania, both victories.

OSU has traveled to Philadelphia twice, beating Temple 35-3 Sept. 5, 2002 and Villanova 6-0 in the Liberty Bowl Dec. 15, 1962, where Beaver QB and Heisman Trophy winner (the only one from the Pacific Northwest) Terry Baker ran 99 yards for the game’s only score.

107,000 of your closest friends.
Saturday will likely be the biggest crowd to ever witness an Oregon State football game. The Beavers played in front of 104,741 at Michigan in 1986, 100,423 vs. Michigan in the 1965 Rose Bowl and 100,000 vs. Iowa in the 1957 Rose Bowl.

Good news against Top-25 opponents.
Oregon State has won three of its last four road games against Top 25 teams — at No. 18 Oregon (38-31 2 OT in ‘07), at No. 2 California (31-28 in ‘07) and at No. 24 Hawai’i (35-32 in ‘06). Overall, the program has won four of its last five vs. Top 25 foes.

Offensive fireworks!
Oregon State has without question more offensive weapons this season as evident with 490 total yards last week at Stanford. The team has averaged 441 yards per game over the last four contests, dating back to last year.

• Receiver Shane Morales’ 13 receptions at Stanford were the second-most ever for a Beaver in a game and Sammie Stroughter’s 12 tied for the third most
• Morales ranks second in the nation in receptions and Stroughter is third
• Stroughter and Morales combined for 25 receptions for 308 yards and three TDs
• Lyle Moevao, who threw for 404 yards is fourth in the country in passing yards and seventh in total offense. Moevao’s 404 yards rank as the ninth highest total in OSU history.

Back in black and orange.
Oregon State starting safety Al Afalava will be back for the game after missing the season opener while serving a suspension for a team rules violation.

Afalava is the team's leading tackler from a year ago when he grabbed 64 tackles earning Pac-10 honorable mention honors. He has 25 career starts and a reputation as a ruthless hitter.

The Beavers hope to have guard Jeremy Perry (knee), defensive tackle Mitchel Hunt (mono) and center Marcus Henderson (mono) back in the lineup this week as well.

Burn them redshirts.
Three true freshmen made their collegiate debuts last week at Stanford. Tailback Jacquizz Rodgers led the Beavers on the ground with 14 carries and 54 yards. Johnny Hekker punted three times and long snapper Marcus Perry enjoyed an error-free debut.

The one and only.
Oregon State is the only team in the traditional Bowl Championships Series conferences to play its first two games on the road. The last time the team opened the season with back-to-back road games was 2004 at LSU and Boise State, which marks the last time the Beavers started the season 0-2.

Take care of that pigskin.
Over the last 50 games, Oregon State is 21-2 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent, 6-15 when committing more turnovers and 3-3 when even.

Since 2001 the Beavers are tied for the sixth-most forced turnovers in the nation with 203, trailing USC (241), Virginia Tech (216), West Virginia (211), Washington State (210), Oklahoma (208) and Texas also has (203).

2008 statistical leaders.

OSU	PSU

Additional notes.

• The Beavers have played in seven bowl games in nine years — the third-most over that period in the Pac-10.
  
• OSU heads off to play at No. 19-ranked Penn State this week. The Beavers have won three of their last four road games against top 25 opponents and five of their last nine overall.
  
• Oregon State is 41-6 when it leads after three quarters with Mike Riley as the head coach. Starting with the 2004 season, the Beavers are 27-2 (losses to LSU - 04 & UCLA - 07) when they head into the fourth quarter with the lead.
  
• Mike Riley has won five of his last nine games vs. top-25 opponents.
  
• OSU has outscored its opponents 134-30 in the first quarter over the 2007 and 2008 seasons, and in the last 23 games has a margin of 214-54 in the opening period. Oregon and Maryland are the only teams to score touchdowns in the first quarter during the last 14 games.
  
• Oregon State is 41-6 when it leads after three quarters with Mike Riley as the head coach. Starting with the 2004 season, the Beavers are 27-2 (losses to LSU - ‘04 & UCLA - ‘07) when they head into the fourth quarter with the lead.
  
• Mike Riley is poised to move into the top three winningest coaches in Oregon State history this season. With 47 wins during his seven years at the helm, Riley needs one victory to tie Paul Schissler (1924-32) with 48 wins. Four triumphs would tie Riley with legendary coach Dee Andros (1965-75) with 51 wins.