The team was led by first-year head coach Gary Andersen and played their home games at Reser Stadium in Corvallis.

In a move that shook the college football world, the University of Nebraska announced the hiring of Oregon State's head coach Mike Riley on December 4, 2014.

"[3] Nebraska fired head coach Bo Pelini, opening the door for Riley to make the unanticipated move.

An equally shocking move came just six days later, as the Oregon State Athletic Department announced that they had hired Gary Andersen of Wisconsin as Riley's replacement on December 10, 2014.

[5] It marked the second straight Wisconsin coach (Bret Bielema left for Arkansas) to leave for what many considered a job with a less prestigious program.