For the seventh time in nine seasons Oregon State will play in a bowl game -- the third most appearances in a postseason event in the Pac-10 over that time frame. This will be Oregon State’s first-ever appearance in the Emerald Bowl, after playing in its first Sun Bowl last season. OSU has won three consecutive bowl games, the longest active streak in the Pac-10 Conference.

The Beavers will be playing the Maryland Terrapins out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terps finished the year 6-6 and 3-5 in the ACC Atlantic and like the Beavers won two games over nationally ranked opponents. For the first time since 1966-69, Oregon State finished the season with back-to-back winning marks in Pac-10 play.

The Beavers placed third in 2006 and 2007 at 6-3. Head coach Mike Riley has guided the program to three winning marks in conference action. "FIGHT ON" Only USC has a better overall and conference record than Oregon State over the last two seasons. Here is a closer look: USC 21-4 (14-4 in Pac-10), Oregon State 18-8 (12-6), Arizona State 17-8 (11-7), California 16-9 (10-8), Oregon 15-10 (9-9), UCLA 13-12 (10-8), Arizona 11-13 (8-10), Washington State 11-13 (7-11), Washington 9-16 (5-13) and Stanford 5-19 (4-14).