Beavers QB will be Vaz,

CORVALLIS, ORE. — Oregon State football coach Mike Riley announced late Saturday that Cody Vaz, the junior quarterback who began 2012 as a backup, will start when the No. 15 Beavers (9-3) play Texas (8-4) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.

“It was obviously a tough decision, but I guess that’s a good thing,” Riley said.

Vaz completed 94 of 157 passes for 1,286 yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception in six games this season.

Vaz (6-1, 198 pounds) said he was excited to hear the news from offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf but did his best to “play it cool.”

Sophomore Sean Mannion, who began the season as the Beavers’ top quarterback, left practice before the media could speak with him. Mannion completed 200 of 309 passes for 2,446 yards, 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in nine games this season.

Vaz said he and Mannion didn’t talk about the decision but was quick to point out, “Like I’ve said before, I support him when he’s in there, and he’s going to support me.”