Vaz to start for Oregon State in Alamo Bowl vs. Texas

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Junior Cody Vaz will start at quarterback for No. 15 Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl against Texas.

Beavers coach Mike Riley held off making a decision between Vaz and sophomore Sean Mannion until Saturday. Oregon State (9-3) will travel to San Antonio on Sunday to prepare for next week's game with the Longhorns (8-4).

Mannion has thrown for 2,446 yards, 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in nine games this season. Vaz has thrown for 1,286 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception in six games.

Mannion started the first four games of the season, throwing seven touchdown passes and averaging 339 yards, but sustained an injury to his left knee that required surgery. Vaz, who hadn't started since high school, took over and helped the Beavers win their next two games. He later became the team's starter.

But Vaz sprained his left ankle in the final moments of a loss to Stanford, and Mannion started the final three games.

"I have to stress we are choosing between good, not good and bad," Riley said after practice Saturday.

The two quarterbacks took similar reps in practice until Saturday when Vaz played primarily with the first-team offense. The Beavers will resume practice on Monday in San Antonio.