College Football 2013 Top 25 Preview: No. 3 Stanford Cardinal
By Ty Duffy
2012 Recap: Stanford lost early to Washington and in overtime on a controversial call to Notre Dame. They improved after replacing quarterback Josh Nunes with redshirt freshman Kevin Hogan. The Cardinal beat four-straight ranked opponents (including Oregon at Autzen) to win the Pac 12 and held on against Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl to finish 12-2. They were a missed field goal against Oklahoma State away from three-straight BCS bowl wins.
Offense: This team wants to pound you. They have one of the nation’s best offensive lines, with their impressive 2012 recruiting haul just starting to have an impact. They have talent and depth at running back. Kevin Hogan, though projections of him vary, will do what Stanford wants, be accurate in short range and not turn the ball over. They lose four of their top five pass catchers from 2012, but deserve the benefit of the doubt, at least at tight end. Expect good enough, but not great production and few turnovers.
Schedule: It’s a lot tougher than Oregon’s. The Cardinal play Notre Dame non-conference. They play Arizona State and USC while Oregon do not. Finishing undefeated would require Stanford to beat six Top 25 teams in their last seven games. The seventh is their major rivalry game against Cal.
Ceiling: 12-0. The offense hits its potential. They avoid injuries up front on defense. Stanford has a tough schedule, but bulldozes its way through it.
Floor: 9-3. A great defense and a great offensive line take you a long way in college football. A run of injuries. A problem bedding in receivers on offense. Poor luck in one-score games. It’s conceivable Stanford could drop a few games against their better opponents.
Prediction: 11-1. With the tight ends from 2012 and the quarterback from 2011, this might be the team that could end the SEC drought. It still might be as constituted. But Stanford is not as imposing at home as most major programs. I think they drop a game, and that game is probably against an Oregon bent on revenge.
[Photos via USA Today Sports]
25. USC Trojans 24. Miami Hurricanes 23. Northwestern Wildcats 22. Oregon State Beavers 21.Nebraska Cornhuskers 20. Texas Longhorns 19. Louisville Cardinals 18. Baylor Bears 17. Michigan Wolverines 16. TCU Horned Frogs 15. Oklahoma Sooners 14. Clemson Tigers 13. Florida State Seminoles 12. LSU Tigers 11. Boise State Broncos 10. Florida Gators 9. Oklahoma State Cowboys 8.Georgia Bulldogs 7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6. South Carolina Gamecocks 5. Texas A&M Aggies 4. Ohio State Buckeyes