CORVALLIS, Ore. -- It seems like the Oregon State Beavers always do exactly what no one expects from them.

Whenever the Beavers look like they'll have a successful season, they tend to falter. Take last year, when they were ranked heading into the season and performed admirably in an opening loss against TCU.

In the end, Oregon State finished a disappointing 5-7 and failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2005.

Safety Lance Mitchell hopes the opposite holds true this season, like in 2008, when the Beavers were picked to finish sixth in the Pac-10 but finished 9-4 and second in the league to champion USC.

"If history repeats itself, usually when we don't get a good look and don't get a lot of respect we actually do pretty good, so maybe it's a good thing," Mitchell said.

But the Beavers have been stung in the offseason by attrition and injuries.

No doubt the biggest absence is that of Jacquizz Rodgers, who left Oregon State a year early to go to the NFL. He now plays for the Atlanta Falcons.

His older brother, flanker James Rodgers, is one of the team's walking wounded. Rodgers, known for his proficiency in pulling off Oregon State's trademark fly sweep, is coming off two knee surgeries and won't be ready for the opener.

Tight end Joe Halahuni and cornerback Brandon Hardin have shoulder injuries and won't play, either. While coach Mike Riley expects to have Halahuni back soon, Hardin may miss the whole year. Also out is defensive tackle Kevin Frahm (knee).

Additionally, defensive tackle Dominic Glover is still awaiting word on his academic eligibility, but he looks doubtful for the opener.

The Beavers are expected to start 14 first-timers. They'll be guided onfield by junior quarterback Ryan Katz, who completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,401 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Katz was coming off surgery in the offseason after breaking his wrist during last year's loss to rival Oregon in the Civil War.

At least for the opener, many eyes will be on true freshman running back Malcolm Agnew, who earned a starter's job in fall camp as Quizz's heir apparent. Fellow freshman Brandin Cooks is expected to start at flanker in place of the elder Rodgers brother.

"We are anxious to kick it off and get going and find out a little bit about who we are and where we are. We're just looking forward to playing a game. It feels like it's time to do that," Riley said this week. "We always talk about that as coaches, that we'd like to have more time but I think for this team right now, we need to play and get this thing started."

Sacramento State is in much the same position, looking to finally play a game -- but with the added incentive of measuring up against a Pac-12 team.

"We're looking forward to the challenge. We just want to go out, execute, and play to the best of our ability. Do a good job of really just seeing where we are as a team. What comes from that, we will see," coach Marshall Sperbeck said.

The Hornets, part of the lower division Big Sky Conference, went 6-5 last season. They averaged 37 points in their final seven games as their offense clicked down the stretch, but they fell 17-16 to UC Davis in the finale.

Sacramento State returns the core of its offense, including quarterback Jeff Fleming, running back Bryan Hilliard and receivers Chase Deadder and Morris Horrise.

And on defense, the Hornets have dangerous senior defensive end Zach Nash, who set a school record with 13 sacks last season.

In contrast to the Beavers, the Hornets head into the season mostly injury-free. Fleming had surgery on his throwing elbow after last season, but says he's fully recovered.

"I think it comes down to us playing within ourselves, protecting the football, making sure we go up there and we really don't try to do too much," Sperbeck told reporters via conference call this week. "Play within our ability, play within our scheme, and if that's good enough to win, then so be it."

Sperbeck, a former quarterback, actually played for Oregon State for a time but left after the 1979 season when coach Craig Fertig was dismissed and Joe Avezzano was hired.

The two teams have met once before, in the 2003 opener, which the Beavers won 40-7. Last year the Hornets lost 52-17 to Stanford.