BERKELEY, Calif. - Not long ago, Oregon State's offense was viewed as productive and improving. The running game was clicking, and there was some promise through the air.
It seems like years ago.
Oregon State, with little warning, can't get out of first gear. The Beavers had their worst offensive performance of the season by a wide margin Saturday in a 44-7 loss to California.
The Beavers (4-4) managed just 200 yards, the season's lowest total by than 100 yards. OSU's 60 yards rushing was a season low by a substantial margin.
It's not a one-game issue. It started during the second half a week ago against UNLV, when the Beavers' running game stopped producing. During the past six quarters, Oregon State has run the ball 44 times for 66 yards, an average of 1.5 yards per carry.
"Whenever we don't have a running game, it's hard to get stuff started," OSU coach Trent Bray said.
That was about as specific as Bray got afterward as he mulled what is now a three-game losing streak and a season suddenly on the brink.
"We didn't play well in any phase. Didn't coach well, didn't play well," Bray said. "The start of the game how it started out, kind of set the tone."
There were few answers about the quarterback position, too. Starter Gevani McCoy was benched after five ineffective series to start the game. Ben Gulbranson took most of the snaps the rest of the way, with Gabarri Johnson occasionally seeing action.
Bray said he put Gulbranson and Johnson into the game "to see if one of those guys would light a spark and get something going."
The offense improved a little, but it wasn't until the game's dying minutes that Oregon State scored to avoid its first shutout since 2015. Combined, the three quarterbacks were 14 of 27 for 140 yards. McCoy, who has started each of Oregon State's eight games this season, was 2 of 5 for 3 yards passing. Gulbranson hit 11 of 20 passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Bray sidestepped a question as to whether he was considering a change at starting quarterback.
"I couldn't make that right now. I've got to see the film and talk to (offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson)," Bray said.
How bad was the offense? When Gulbranson completed a 29-yard pass late in the second quarter, it was more yardage than OSU's cumulative total of its first five drives.
Gulbranson piloted the best two drives of the game. One came just before halftime, when he moved the Beavers 55 yards, but failed to produce points when Everett Hayes' 38-yard field goal was blocked. OSU's final possession of the game - a 17-play, 75-yard drive - led to its one score, a 2-yard touchdown grab by Trent Walker.
It was Gulbranson's most significant action since the 2023 Sun Bowl. Gulbranson, who won seven of eight games as a starter in 2022, was in no mood to accept any praise for things the Beavers did well.
"I've got to be better. I think as a unit, we've got to be better. As a team we've got to be better," Gulbranson said.
Gulbranson is generally upbeat and often wears a smile. But throughout his post-game interview, it was clear the fifth-year junior was incredibly disappointed.
"I don't think anybody on the team is happy," he said.
There was a lot of talk afterward about looking in the mirror as the Beavers (4-4) approach the final four games of the season. What exactly are the coaches and players looking for in that mirror?
"Our identity as a team," outside linebacker Nikko Taylor said. "Are we going to quit or not? I don't think this is the type of team that's going to quit."
Taylor said he's led to believe the Beavers won't give up on the final games of the season based on observations.
"Just seeing the guys in the locker room. Keeping their heads up, not with their heads down," he said.
Bray was even more succinct when asked if he's concerned about losing the team.