As somewhat expected, Oregon State will have a new but familiar face under center for this weekend’s game.
Cody Vaz, who has started four of the past five games for the Beavers, suffered an ankle injury in last Saturday’s loss to Stanford and has not been able to participate in practice at all this week. As a result, head coach Mike Riley confirmed Thursday, Sean Mannion will be the starter this Saturday against Cal.
Vaz is expected to at least dress out for the game, although it’s unclear if he’ll be healthy enough to serve as the primary backup or emergency option.
Mannion started the first four games of the season before suffering a torn meniscus. After missing two games, Mannion returned but was yanked in his first game back in favor of Vaz after throwing four interceptions against Washington. He has played very little the past two games.
Prior to the loss to the Huskies in which he tossed four picks in 34 attempts, he had thrown four interceptions in 169 pass attempts.