Beavers have plenty to chew on with LSU

Much has been made about Oregon State’s tough season opener at LSU — mostly about whether the Beavers will be able to do much of anything against the defending BCS champions.

In coach Mike Riley’s mind, however, the questions are moot at this point.

“Now we have to go play the game, and we’re playing an outstanding football team,” he said. “I mean, this team throughout — offense, defense, special teams — they play at national-championship level.”

The Beavers headed to Baton Rouge Thursday for Saturday’s game at inhospitable Tiger Stadium, known appropriately as Death Valley, before a sellout crowd of more than 91,000 and a live television audience.

Is Oregon State taking the next, admittedly difficult step in raising its national profile? Or are the Beavers simply setting themselves up for disaster?

“Whatever those risks are, I think the preparation for what a guy has to do to play in a tough environment, to play in a tough football game against a good football team — this can be part of tremendous growth for us, so I see a tremendous upside in that and try not to look at those risks too much,” Riley said.

The Tigers, who went 13-1 last season and were crowned the BCS champs after a 21-14 Sugar Bowl victory over Oklahoma, enter the season ranked No. 4.

“I don’t think there’s doubt about when you come off of the success that you’ve had, that you really try to get your team to focus on what’s happening now, what their challenges are ahead,” LSU coach Nick Saban said. “We’ve tried to establish that by talking about (how) this is a new mountain we have to climb. We planted the flag last year, but that’s over and done with. It’s history.”

The Tigers lost several key members of a team that won its last eight games, including quarterback Matt Mauck, to the pros.

Marcus Randall, a fifth-year senior, has taken over at QB. His primary target in the air will likely be junior receiver Skyler Green, who had 48 catches for 519 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Green twisted his ankle during LSU’s final scrimmage but is expected to play Saturday.

The Tigers’ running game is keyed by Justin Vincent, the Sugar Bowl MVP who finished with 1,001 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.

Oregon State’s running game was its trademark last season, with Stephen Jackson mentioned early on as a Heisman candidate. The Pac-10’s leading rusher has since moved on to the pros.

Riley said this season he’ll employ a tailback-by-committee system.