ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

Two years ago, Oregon State came into Cincinnati and got shellacked 34-3. It was the first signature victory of the Brian Kelly era and the herald of what was to come. The Bearcats went on to win 10 games that year and followed it up with an 11-win Orange Bowl season in 2008.

Now in 2009, Cincinnati is in a much better position as it makes the return trip to Oregon State on Saturday. The Bearcats are ranked 17th and have established themselves as a legitimate program.

"We needed to win in '07, whether it was Oregon State or St. Louis State," Kelly said. "We just needed to win football games. I don't carry the same kind of feeling with this game. I think it will be an exciting game, but I don't think we need to prove anything."

Maybe not, but the Bearcats could certainly improve their standing by beating a well-respected Pac-10 team three time zones away from home. A win could help them inch toward top-10 status and make even more people pay attention to what Kelly is building. Plus, for all of Cincinnati's accomplishments last year, it lost its two big nonconference showdowns, at Oklahoma and against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl.

"This is obviously another stepping stone for us to get to our goal," quarterback Tony Pike said. "It's something we need to do, show the country we can take a long flight, travel across the U.S. and hopefully come away with a big win."

The challenge, however, is a steep one. First of all, the Beavers (2-0) haven't lost a nonconference game in Corvallis since 1996, a streak of 26 straight victories. Cincinnati is the first ranked nonconference opponent to visit Reser Stadium since BYU in 1977.

And Kelly said this Oregon State team has more weapons than the one that came to Nippert Stadium two years ago, primarily in the Rodgers brothers -- running back Jacquizz and receiver James.

"They're both very shifty and have a lot of speed," linebacker Craig Carey said. "We've got to get them at the line of scrimmage and make sure we wrap them up. We can't let them get outside and have game-breaking plays."

Cincinnati's new-look defense, which features 10 first-year starters and a new 3-4 base, has been a hit so far in allowing just 18 points in two games. But the Beavers, who also have an experienced quarterback in Sean Canfield, will present the toughest assignment yet.

"Rutgers was unsure at quarterback and had a true freshman wide receiver," Carey said, recalling the Bearcats 47-15 win over the Scarlet Knights in Week 1. "This Oregon State offense has been together a long time, and they're experienced."

Will the defense be up for the task?

"They'd better be," Kelly said. "I think we're getting better. I'm pleased with our front seven. We still have to develop at the back end of our defense. This game will get us another step closer to learning more about our football team."

Kelly insists this game is just that -- a chance to find out more about his team. He said both his club and the Beavers, who sit just outside the Top 25, are looking to break into the next echelon. He doesn't see this as a defining moment like 2007.

But a win sure would be nice.

"Going against that kind of streak, in that kind of atmosphere against that kind of team and to pull out a win, that would be huge for us," Carey said.