After Trent Bray’s dismissal following an 0–7 start, the Beavers are again searching for direction, and for someone capable of steering them through a turbulent new college football landscape.

Oregon State fired coach Trent Bray on Sunday after the team fell to 0-7, its worst start to a season since 1991.

At that point, they will be measured against the teams they used to look down upon: the five newcomers from the Mountain West — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah Sta...