Oregon State expected to start QB Maalik Murphy in Week 1

The continued expectation is that former Texas and Duke transfer Maalik Murphy will earn the starting quarterback nod for Oregon State in Week 1, sources tell On3. The Beavers open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 when Cal visits.

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound redshirt sophomore entered the portal in December and visited Auburn and Kentucky, but ultimately picked Oregon State. When the former four-star recruit entered the portal at Texas, the Beavers were another top option, but he chose Duke.

In his lone season at Duke, Murphy threw for 2,933 yards with 28 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 60% completion percentage. Murphy went 9–3 as a starter for the Blue Devils in Manny Diaz’s first season.

But Maalik Murphy hit the portal shortly after Duke went all-in on Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah. Murphy picked up two Big 12 wins in 2023 at Texas when Quinn Ewers was sidelined with an injury.

He arrived at Oregon State this fall and quickly emerged as the de facto No. 1 quarterback. The Beavers are coming off a 5-7 season. Oregon State lost quarterbacks Gevani McCoy and Ben Gulbranson to the portal this offseason, with McCoy now at Temple and Gulbranson set to start at Stanford.

“He’s way more comfortable with the offense having gone through spring,” Oregon State head coach Trent Bray previously said. “And really that’s all it is for him. He’s got all the physical ability to get it done. Now it’s just running plays over and over, doing those reads over and over, so he’s sharp by the time we line up against Cal.”

Cal is set to visit Oregon State on Aug. 30 to open the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. The Beavers are currently a 3-point favorite, according to BetMGM.