CORVALLIS -- The ball popped free from Ryan Nall's grasp deep in Oregon State territory to set up the Minnesota touchdown that all but clinched a victory Saturday night.
Nall's fumble marked the only OSU second-half drive that did not end in a punt. Though the Beavers' defense again crumbled against Minnesota's proven backfield tandem of Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, OSU's ineptitude on offense during a decisive third quarter transformed a one-score contest into a 48-14 blowout at Reser Stadium.
"We had no offense in the third quarter," Beavers coach Gary Andersen said. "We couldn't throw it.