CORVALLIS - One year later, the Oregon State football team finally admits it broke coach Mike Riley's cardinal rule when it comes to approaching a game.

The Beavers were in position to earn a Rose Bowl berth last season if they won the rivalry game against Oregon in the Civil War.

Riley preached his usual one-game-at-a-time philosophy as the team prepared. Players, instead, used the end of the journey as motivation. It wasn't enough and they were distracted.

The result was a 65-38 blowout at home and a trip to the Sun Bowl. At the time, players said they were ready for the game and didn't have an answer for what happened.

With some time away from their most embarrassing moment, they've learned what went wrong.

"One thing we learned is we have to live in a bubble and focus on the task at hand," linebacker Keith Pankey said. "We can't worry about what could come. And that got us in trouble last year."

The scenario is the same this season. With a win over the Ducks on Thursday night in Autzen Stadium the Beavers earn a share the Pacific-10 Conference title and a spot in the Rose Bowl.

Riley has already reminded the players of the rule that was broken, and doesn't want them to let it happen again.

"I've asked our team to not think about past the game," Riley said. "Our focus has to be on playing our best game, and we'll need it. The things after the game won't matter if you don't win. So why talk about it? We have a lot to deal with getting ready for the Ducks."

Can Riley really expect that?

Even though the Beavers are on the verge of a great achievement for the second year in a row, these opportunities don't come along often.

The program has been on a steady rise the last decade but the last time the Beavers were in the Rose Bowl was 1965, and there was the infamous 28 years of losing since then.

"It's something to be aware of and cautioned against," Riley said. "You can't put yourself into something until you are in it. We've had to stay in the moment to survive until now. Why change now? If you talk too much about it, then you are wasting time not dwelling on what's important."

Most of the breakdowns in last year's game came on defense. The offense did put up 38 points and 463 yards.

And that was without injured star running back Jacquizz Rodgers, and with a quarterback whose throwing shoulder was hurt before the game and needed reconstructive surgery.

The Beavers came off a string of hard-fought games to reach the Civil War. The last one was a come-from-behind victory at Arizona.

"We were physically taxed," defensive coordinator Mark Banker said. "I can't say going into that game we had the best week of preparation from overall focus from our guys with us mentally all the time."

Banker realized he pushed his defense too hard in that situation, even though the Beavers had one of the best defenses they've assembled with five starters drafted by NFL teams.

"We were overzealous in the game plan we put together," Banker said. "We did some things in the game plan going into that game that were set to attack particular plays. It was going to take focus and execution. It was probably too much for them, for that group, at that point in time to handle."

This year's defense started out young but has the potential of last season's group some day.

For now, the coaches are developing their skills. Banker now knows not to overdo the game plan again, and only allow the players to do what they do best.

If the coaches do that, then it's up to the players to follow Riley's cardinal rule.

"You just have to seize the day," cornerback Tim Clark said. "You can't build for the future anymore. It's about what's in front of you. We are not looking forward to the Rose Bowl or anything else. We are looking forward to the Civil War."