The Oregon State Beavers have reached a breaking point. After watching their team go 7-0 this season, athletic director Scott Barnes pulled the trigger and fired head coach Trent Bray. It’s a decision that surprises nobody who’s watched this program spiral downward this season. Bray’s tenure at Oregon ends at 5-14.
Oregon State fires Trent Bray after 0-7 start, per ESPN sources. He was two years into a five year deal and finishes 5-14. He’s expected to be owed just over $4 million. https://t.co/AlKjdtsQpE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 12, 2025
Keeping in mind Bray’s removal, Oregon State are now in dire need of a new Head Coach. Here are five potential candidates who could replace Bray at Oregon State.
Top 5 Potential Trent Bray Replacements
1) Ryan Grubb (Alabama Offensive Coordinator)
Ryan Grubb, who has been a co-worker of Kalen DeBoer during his time in Alabama and has participated at the highest levels of college football, has worked with some of the best offenses over the last ten years in the Pac-12 during his two years in Washington. Throughout that time, while at Washington, Grubb helped Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze emerge as stars, and the offense was consistently ranked as one of the best offenses in the country, notably, in 2022, above all P5 schools, as a top-five offense in the country.
The issue with Grubb is that he has not been a head coach. He has never run a program and has not had any recruiting responsibilities beyond his position group.
2) Brent Vigen (Montana State Head Coach)
The coach at Montana State has built an impressive program in Bozeman, giving the Bobcats the status of being one of the nation’s elite FCS programs. Vigen took over in 2021, and in just two seasons, he has taken Montana State to two national championship games while being a solid contender every year at the FCS football level.
Vigen was part of Wyoming’s offensive coordinator for seven years with Craig Bohl, coaching the likes of Josh Allen.
Reports indicate Vigen has already drawn interest from multiple FBS programs. Oregon State needs to move quickly before someone else snatches him up.
3) Jason Eck (New Mexico Head Coach)
Jason Eck provides yet another appealing choice for the New Mexico head coach position, coming off his big upset win over UCLA. Prior to New Mexico, Eck brought Idaho into an FCS contender, departing after a 9-4 quarterfinal run back in 2024.
Eck’s time as offensive coordinator at South Dakota State was crucial in helping to build one of the best FCS programs of all time. With Oregon State’s recent issues scoring points, Eck’s offensive success could be a burst of scoring that Oregon State really needs.
4) Brennan Marion (Sacramento State Head Coach)
Brennan Marion, who became Sacramento State’s head coach earlier this offseason, is already regarded as an offensive innovator. Marion served as the offensive coordinator at UNLV for the last two seasons, and the Rebels ranked in the national Top 22 in scoring in both seasons.
Marion’s offense play has influenced programs across the country. He’s coached at multiple western schools, including Hawaii, and understands the recruiting landscape. At 41 years old, Marion represents the new generation of coaches. He’s a risk, relatively young and inexperienced as a head coach, but potentially a good hire.
5) Bob Chesney (JMU Head Coach)
Bob Chesney came to James Madison with a strong candidacy as a head coach at all levels with a head coaching record of 123-51, including a 45-7 record and five conference championships at Holy Cross. The Crusaders became one of the premier teams in FCS football, advancing to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs with an overall record of 12-1 in 2022.
Chesney has sustained the winning tradition of the program in spite of the transition to FBS football. He has amassed a 12-5 record at the FBS level and is experienced in dealing with expectations during impactful transitions. These same problems are currently facing Oregon State, and Chesney’s steady hand may provide much-needed stability in this time of program transition.
Trent Bray’s Legacy as a Star Linebacker for Oregon State
Trent Bray, a former star linebacker for the Beavers, has received Pac-12 All-Conference recognition on two occasions during his playing career and was one of the most dependable defenders in the program’s history.
Once his playing career was finished, Bray became a coach when he was hired as a graduate assistant and quickly climbed the ranks to eventually become the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Oregon State from 2021-2023 due to his dedication and understanding of the program.
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