Let's take a look at Stanford Football.
Best / Worst Case Record for :
Louisville | Virginia | Miami | Duke | Georgia Tech | SMU | Boston College | Pittsburgh | Florida State | Cal | Virginia Tech | NC State |Clemson | Syracuse | North Carolina | Wake Forest
Stanford
There was a time in the not too distant past that Stanford was one of the best college football programs in the country. From 2010 – 2018 Stanford never won fewer than 8 games. In 7 of those years, they finished in the top 20. Then things started turning south, and it’s been the 3 – 4 win train ever since. Frank Reich came in last year as interim coach, and had Stanford playing at a credible level despite not having much talent. It was a respectable 4-8 year. Well, as respectable as 4-8 can be. Stanford’s own Tavita Pritchard returns to try and revive the Cardinals program. Andrew Luck is the GM, and he’s giving one the feeling Stanford is ready to commit to football.
Will Go 6-6 (4-5) if:
Both sides of the ball can be ranked in the top 80. Last year Stanford’s offense and defense were in the 100s. They won 4 games. If they can get reasonable improvement on both sides of the ball, it could result in the Cardinals getting to a bowl game. Beating Hawaii in the opener is a must. Then they should beat Elon, and then they have to find 4 more wins. That won’t be easy, but Georgia Tech and NC State are a chance. Cal is a rivalry game, and you beat them last year. Then you have to steal one on the road, and Wake Forest looks like the best chance. Micah Ford is a quality RB, and if the Cardinals control games on the ground, they have a chance.
Will Go 2-10 (1-7) if:
The schedule just overwhelms them. The open against Hawaii isn’t a gimme, and there’s Elon. Those could be the only games that Stanford is favored. They face the 3 best ACC teams going into the season: Miami, Louisville, and SMU. There’s a game at Notre Dame too. Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, NC State, and Cal are all coming bowl seasons in 2025. Virginia Tech is the road. WOW, that’s brutal for a team that played hard last year, but isn’t the most talented. New coach Tavita Pritchard could actually do a decent job, and Stanford may not break 4 wins.
