Football 2025 - Printable Version
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Football 2025 - Papa John - 06-30-2025
I apologize if there is already a thread specifically devoted to the upcoming season, but I couldn't find it (if so, mods please feel free to merge this thread).
In any case, given that the calendar is turning over to July and the Hawaii game is less than 8 weeks away, this seems like a reasonable time to talk about our expectations for Stanford Football 2025.
A few weeks ago, ESPN came out with something called the "football future power" ranking. The criteria, projecting ahead for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, are:
* Returning quarterback
* Likelihood of a multiyear QB on roster
* Offensive line/defensive line outlook
* Roster management
* Star power (All-Americans, national award contenders, all-conference contenders)
* Coaching staff
Out of the 68 teams in the Power 4 + Notre Dame, Stanford comes in at...
68
In ESPN's SP+ rankings, just for the upcoming season, Stanford comes in at 88 amongst the 136 D-1 teams, ahead of only Purdue amongst the Power 4.
In ESPN's Football Power Index, Stanford fares a bit better at 64, which is ahead of West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Arizona, Northwestern, Wake Forest and Purdue. Stanford's projected record is 4.7-7.3 and FPI gives Stanford a 34.3% chance of 6+ wins.
Given what Stanford has lost due to the NFL (Ayomanor), graduation and transfers and what it has brought in, I have a hard time seeing substantive improvement on the past four years, which each ended in 3-9. Other than the change in head coach, can anyone pinpoint in what areas Stanford will improve this year?
RE: Football 2025 - ADPinWDC - 06-30-2025
Transfer portal: 27 outbound; 18 coming in, all three-stars, no fours.
https://247sports.com/college/stanford/season/2025-football/transferportal/?institutionkey=24092
The challenge remains getting and coaching 4-5 star O-line for both the running and passing game.
At least we have the O-Line mostly coming back.
Monsters, like 2009-2012, also 2015-16. We have 4-star QB talent, and Reich can coach QBs.
We also lack a Gamebreaker at RB with NFL potential... CMcCaff, B.Love, Stepfan Taylor, bruising Gerhart, Tommy Vardell, Muster.
We have combos of QB-TE-WR to make yards, but Harbaugh achieved the turnaround with a commanding O-Line and dominant run game.
In the BCS Years (2010-2016) we could anticipate a 1,000 yard rusher every year. NOW?
No returning starters with a TD. And, we struggle to convert third downs, falling behind 2TDs+ early.
https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/stanford-football-2025-preview-transition-season-cardinal
RE: Football 2025 - SkiBum80 - 06-30-2025
I am eager for the new season.
Grateful for the guys that stuck around, and for the new ones coming in to try and build up the Cards to a better more competitive team.
Hopeful for their success and for some achievement accolades for the quickly filled in new head coach.
And for our GM to be proud to see some notable positive improvements.
With my dreams (fantasies?) of some nice upsets along the way, particularly if other teams take us lightly.
But realistically trying to steel myself for disappointment. Possibly a lot of it.
RE: Football 2025 - 82lsju - 07-01-2025
from the AD on the nine summer transfers in
https://gostanford.com/news/2025/06/23/nine-summer-transfers-added
RE: Football 2025 - Vandelay - 07-01-2025
What does everyone think about BYU QB Jake Retzlaff? There are rumors he may transfer to Stanford. He would be a major upgrade at QB.
RE: Football 2025 - chrisk - 07-01-2025
(07-01-2025, 08:28 AM)82lsju Wrote: from the AD on the eight summer transfers in
https://gostanford.com/news/2025/06/23/nine-summer-transfers-added
Nine started Saturday bringing the total transfers in for the year to 17.
RE: Football 2025 - Mick - 07-01-2025
(07-01-2025, 11:39 AM)Vandelay Wrote: What does everyone think about BYU QB Jake Retzlaff? There are rumors he may transfer to Stanford. He would be a major upgrade at QB.
He's a California native, that's good. It's his third time in the portal. Not so good.
Tennessee needs him and they have a high-powered offense. Still, Reich is a former NFL QB and Luck is a former NFL QB, and they could make the case that he'll develop more at Stanford than at Tennessee. Alabama might need a QB. Retzlaff probably doesn't want to go to Maryland where they have a four-star frosh waiting to start. UNLV? MMMmmmmaybe. They brought in two QBs already.
I don't know what his academics are. 24 BYU football players made the Big-12 All Academic team, Retzlaff wasn't one of them. BYU did have two cross-country runners named Stanford make the All-Academic team, so...there's that.
When he accepted BYU's offer, his other offers were from Hawaii, New Mexico State and UTEP. Supposedly, he was the #1 ranked Juco QB. He lost his senior HS year to COVID. He was three star QB coming out of high school.
I don't know if Stanford wants a QB who had a sexual assault case dropped against him. BYU was going to suspend him for the first seven games of the season for the honor code violation of premarital sex. He already graduated from BYU. His stats last season: 2,947 yards passing and 20 touchdowns, rushing for another 417 yards and 6 scores, while throwing 12 interceptions. PFF graded him out at the highest grade on the BYU team by the fifth game. Not very accurate, too many turnovers. ESPN had him at #57 QBR in 2024. He was the 11th rated QB out of 15 in the Big 12, so...he'll fit right in here, heh heh heh...
Must have been an interesting experience at BYU, given that Retzlaff is Jewish and BYU is an LDS institution. He has a NIL deal with Manischewitz food brand. His degree is in Exercise Science.
Early last season, Retzlaff stated that he was a Hiesman candidate, so...he doesn't lack confidence.
RE: Football 2025 - ADPinWDC - 07-01-2025
Right with Retzlaff -- quick release, throws a nice spiral, definitely a baller. Cocky.
Can scramble when needed.
Reminds me a bit of Jake Plummer, AZST 1996
Highlights from JUCO
https://247sports.com/player/jake-retzlaff-46128980/
Same concerns: not an academic.
RE: Football 2025 - Jamesy - 07-01-2025
(06-30-2025, 03:25 PM)ADPinWDC Wrote: Transfer portal: 27 outbound; 18 coming in, all three-stars, no fours.
https://247sports.com/college/stanford/season/2025-football/transferportal/?institutionkey=24092
The challenge remains getting and coaching 4-5 star O-line for both the running and passing game.
At least we have the O-Line mostly coming back.
Monsters, like 2009-2012, also 2015-16. We have 4-star QB talent, and Reich can coach QBs.
We also lack a Gamebreaker at RB with NFL potential... CMcCaff, B.Love, Stepfan Taylor, bruising Gerhart, Tommy Vardell, Muster.
We have combos of QB-TE-WR to make yards, but Harbaugh achieved the turnaround with a commanding O-Line and dominant run game.
In the BCS Years (2010-2016) we could anticipate a 1,000 yard rusher every year. NOW?
No returning starters with a TD. And, we struggle to convert third downs, falling behind 2TDs+ early.
https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/stanford-football-2025-preview-transition-season-cardinal
That preview article is terrible. Collin Wright a safety? Mitch Sinclair?!?!
RE: Football 2025 - newguy - 07-01-2025
i would be concerned if we accepted Jake Retzlaff.
those allegations are fairly serious.
RE: Football 2025 - gailtate - 07-02-2025
(06-30-2025, 03:25 PM)ADPinWDC Wrote: Transfer portal: 27 outbound; 18 coming in, all three-stars, no fours.
https://247sports.com/college/stanford/season/2025-football/transferportal/?institutionkey=24092
The challenge remains getting and coaching 4-5 star O-line for both the running and passing game.
At least we have the O-Line mostly coming back.
Monsters, like 2009-2012, also 2015-16. We have 4-star QB talent, and Reich can coach QBs.
We also lack a Gamebreaker at RB with NFL potential... CMcCaff, B.Love, Stepfan Taylor, bruising Gerhart, Tommy Vardell, Muster.
We have combos of QB-TE-WR to make yards, but Harbaugh achieved the turnaround with a commanding O-Line and dominant run game.
In the BCS Years (2010-2016) we could anticipate a 1,000 yard rusher every year. NOW?
No returning starters with a TD. And, we struggle to convert third downs, falling behind 2TDs+ early.
https://collegefootballnews.com/college-football/stanford-football-2025-preview-transition-season-cardinal
"Harbaugh achieved the turnaround with a commanding O-Line and dominant run game."
Say no more. Program's in the ICU and will remain there until further notice.
RE: Football 2025 - Spiny_Norman - 07-08-2025
ESPN is out with its ACC preview. Stanford projected to finish 18th.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45658616/2025-acc-college-football-projections-preview
Quote:2025 projection: 88th in SP+, 3.4 average wins (2.2 in the ACC)
As far as interim coaches go, you could do worse than Frank Reich. The former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers head coach -- and engineer of two of the greatest comebacks of all time -- has the résumé, even if he went just 4-15-1 in his last two years in those jobs. Andrew Luck, the Stanford GM overseeing the program, called in a favor in bringing Reich in after the awkwardly timed firing of Troy Taylor, and no matter what, Reich probably isn't going to do any worse than Taylor. He went 3-9 in each of his two years on the job, just as predecessor David Shaw went 3-9 in each of his last two years. Stanford's SP+ ranking has gotten worse in seven of the last nine years, and the last time the win total improved in a given season was 2015. Yikes. After the program's sudden surge under Jim Harbaugh and Shaw, it's been a slow-motion disaster for most of a decade.
So yeah, there's a low bar for Reich. At QB, he and offensive coordinator Nate Byham will try to create something useful out of either senior Ben Gulbranson (Oregon State), sophomore Dylan Rizk (UCF) or redshirt freshman Elijah Brown; the only particularly proven players in the skill corps are smaller-school transfers in running back Tuna Altahir (Eastern Washington) and receivers Caden High (SC State) and David Pantelis (Yale). The offensive line, long loaded with former blue-chippers, doesn't really have any left. But three starters do return, along with transfers Niki Prongos (UCLA) and Nathan Mejia (Sacramento State). Is there a successful offense in that mix? I don't see it.
The defense has been horrible for three straight years, but it does have experience and continuity -- of 20 players with at least 150 snaps, 15 return. Outside linebacker Tevarua Tafiti, nickel Collin Wright and safety Mitch Leigber are all solid, but the hope has to be that experience and development create something useful.
Things don't usually turn around for an interim, but at the very least, things probably won't get worse. Does that count as positive spin?
RE: Football 2025 - Mick - 07-08-2025
(07-08-2025, 01:25 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: ESPN is out with its ACC preview. Stanford projected to finish 18th.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45658616/2025-acc-college-football-projections-preview
Quote:2025 projection: 88th in SP+, 3.4 average wins (2.2 in the ACC)
As far as interim coaches go, you could do worse than Frank Reich. The former Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers head coach -- and engineer of two of the greatest comebacks of all time -- has the résumé, even if he went just 4-15-1 in his last two years in those jobs. Andrew Luck, the Stanford GM overseeing the program, called in a favor in bringing Reich in after the awkwardly timed firing of Troy Taylor, and no matter what, Reich probably isn't going to do any worse than Taylor. He went 3-9 in each of his two years on the job, just as predecessor David Shaw went 3-9 in each of his last two years. Stanford's SP+ ranking has gotten worse in seven of the last nine years, and the last time the win total improved in a given season was 2015. Yikes. After the program's sudden surge under Jim Harbaugh and Shaw, it's been a slow-motion disaster for most of a decade.
So yeah, there's a low bar for Reich. At QB, he and offensive coordinator Nate Byham will try to create something useful out of either senior Ben Gulbranson (Oregon State), sophomore Dylan Rizk (UCF) or redshirt freshman Elijah Brown; the only particularly proven players in the skill corps are smaller-school transfers in running back Tuna Altahir (Eastern Washington) and receivers Caden High (SC State) and David Pantelis (Yale). The offensive line, long loaded with former blue-chippers, doesn't really have any left. But three starters do return, along with transfers Niki Prongos (UCLA) and Nathan Mejia (Sacramento State). Is there a successful offense in that mix? I don't see it.
The defense has been horrible for three straight years, but it does have experience and continuity -- of 20 players with at least 150 snaps, 15 return. Outside linebacker Tevarua Tafiti, nickel Collin Wright and safety Mitch Leigber are all solid, but the hope has to be that experience and development create something useful.
Things don't usually turn around for an interim, but at the very least, things probably won't get worse. Does that count as positive spin?
Oh, you meant 18th in the ACC. I thought you meant 18th in the nation...
ESPN thinks Stanford will finish 17th.
So does Athlon. They did in January...
Early ACC Football Predictions for 2025 - Athlon Sports
...and they did in June
ACC Football 2025 Predictions - Athlon Sports
Like Athlon, Phil Steele thinks Stanford 17th and Athlon 15th
Phil Steele predicts order of finish for ACC Football in 2025 - On3
Same with 24/7
ACC Football Rankings: 2025 Pre-Spring Preview - College Football News | College Football Predictions, Analysis and Updates
Pro Football Network thinks Stanford 16th, Cal 15th
Predicting Every Game on the ACC Schedule: Undefeated Clemson Crush All-Comers
In February, College Football News had Stanford 16th and Cal 14th
ACC Football Rankings: 2025 Pre-Spring Preview - College Football News | College Football Predictions, Analysis and Updates
CBS Sports says Stanford last (3.5 wins),
2025 ACC win totals, odds, picks: Predictions for every team as Clemson, North Carolina face big expectations - CBSSports.com
Someone named Mike Farrell of Mike Farrell Sports says Stanford is headed for a #13 finish.
Forecasting the ACC: Power Rankings and Playoff Hopes for 2025 - Mike Farrell Sports
I'll stick with that last one.
StanfordIndians1. - StanfordIndians1. - 07-08-2025
Retzlaf couldn’t complete a deep ball if his life depended on it. No touch and is only as good as the O line. No Oline- turnover city.
RE: Football 2025 - jacket3ree - 07-09-2025
At this point, all I want is anything other than 3-9. Zero, one, two, four, five ...16 wins. 17? Whatever it takes.*
*Still one of my all time favorite quotes from an underappreciated '80s movie, Mr. Mom, with the great Teri Garr, Michael Keaton, and Martin Mull.
Garr's boss, Mull, shows up at the Keaton-Garr household to pick her up for a meeting and greets Keaton, recently laid off from a Big-Three Detroit motor company.
Best movie scene ever
Mull: 'Yeah, you gonna make it all 220 [volt]?'
Keaton: 'Yeah, 220... 221...whatever it takes.'
Our gas range's oven died on my wife's birthday. 'Why is this taking so freaking long to pre-heat?' says I with an angel food mold full of raw cake batter. 'Didn't I just replace the oven ignitor?' Wife reminds. 'You've replaced that ignitor three times and the oven is twenty years old!' Wow. Time flies. Anyway, since we won't be able to buy gas appliances anymore, we invested in a probably last longer than I will gas range. Of course the gas connection and outlet are in the wrong location for the new stove. Fine, easy enough to move. (Man I'm not 35 anymore; jumping the cabinet to get into that recess.) But wait, what's this? That's a 220V receptacle! We don't have a dedicated breaker for that, but who knows the mysteries of this house? The joys of a 100 year-old abode with a mix of knob & tube, Romex, and Bx. Our bedroom lights and the fridge are on the same circuit, and so on. So out comes the multimeter. Maybe we can get induction! Crap. 115.1 VAC. My wife sees me in the cavity. 'What is it?' Reflexively I reply '115...116....whatever it takes' and she busts out laughing. We saw the movie together.
But what the hell? Voltage in our house is routinely 123 or 124 VAC. I monitor it for my tube amps. PG&E runs hot so I have my own little step down transformer to feed the audio gear. If they've dropped voltage, a whole new world just opened up. Nope, my multi-meter reads 9 volts less than a straight voltmeter from the same commercial brand I picked up with the joint compound and gap foam to finish the oven job. How the hell does a multi-meter not work right?
RE: Football 2025 - SkiBum80 - 07-09-2025
(07-08-2025, 01:25 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: ESPN is out with its ACC preview. Stanford projected to finish 18th.
18th?! I'm so insulted. We are a solid 17th if I ever saw one.
RE: Football 2025 - Hurlburt88 - 07-10-2025
(07-09-2025, 01:05 PM)jacket3ree Wrote: At this point, all I want is anything other than 3-9. Zero, one, two, four, five ...16 wins. 17? Whatever it takes.*
*Still one of my all time favorite quotes from an underappreciated '80s movie, Mr. Mom, with the great Teri Garr, Michael Keaton, and Martin Mull.
Garr's boss, Mull, shows up at the Keaton-Garr household to pick her up for a meeting and greets Keaton, recently laid off from a Big-Three Detroit motor company.
Best movie scene ever
Mull: 'Yeah, you gonna make it all 220 [volt]?'
Keaton: 'Yeah, 220... 221...whatever it takes.'
Our gas range's oven died on my wife's birthday. 'Why is this taking so freaking long to pre-heat?' says I with an angel food mold full of raw cake batter. 'Didn't I just replace the oven ignitor?' Wife reminds. 'You've replaced that ignitor three times and the oven is twenty years old!' Wow. Time flies. Anyway, since we won't be able to buy gas appliances anymore, we invested in a probably last longer than I will gas range. Of course the gas connection and outlet are in the wrong location for the new stove. Fine, easy enough to move. (Man I'm not 35 anymore; jumping the cabinet to get into that recess.) But wait, what's this? That's a 220V receptacle! We don't have a dedicated breaker for that, but who knows the mysteries of this house? The joys of a 100 year-old abode with a mix of knob & tube, Romex, and Bx. Our bedroom lights and the fridge are on the same circuit, and so on. So out comes the multimeter. Maybe we can get induction! Crap. 115.1 VAC. My wife sees me in the cavity. 'What is it?' Reflexively I reply '115...116....whatever it takes' and she busts out laughing. We saw the movie together.
But what the hell? Voltage in our house is routinely 123 or 124 VAC. I monitor it for my tube amps. PG&E runs hot so I have my own little step down transformer to feed the audio gear. If they've dropped voltage, a whole new world just opened up. Nope, my multi-meter reads 9 volts less than a straight voltmeter from the same commercial brand I picked up with the joint compound and gap foam to finish the oven job. How the hell does a multi-meter not work right?
This post makes my morning! Thank you!!
RE: Football 2025 - ADPinWDC - 07-10-2025
HA!
Got those ACC suckers right where we want them!
We get invited to five Homecoming games this season beyond our own!
Harbaugh went 4-8 his first year (2007), but delivered the biggest upset in Pac-12 modern history against USC, a 41 point fave at the Coliseum, without Andrew Luck -- and then the beat down in 2009 with Gerhart, and a 55 point stomping en route to a bowl game.
2010 started the Golden Era with the BCS win over VATech at the Orange Bowl, using a new 3-4 quick flex Defense by genius DefCo Fangio.
So, that is our trajectory now in the the All Cupcakes Conference.
RE: Football 2025 - Mick - 07-11-2025
Exactly. We're going to go 7-6 with a victory over UNLV in the LA Bowl. Coach Reich's accomplishments will dwarf Harbaugh's as he stays here for the next 10 years as Stanford solves the NIL / portal issues.
RE: Football 2025 - JJJ - 07-11-2025
Not sure if posted elsewhere. Glowing article on Luck (by a fan or fans).
“Stanford’s unlikely leader builds a future dynasty amid coaching chaos.”
https://v2.fanrecap.com/stanford-cardinals/stanfords-unlikely-leader-builds-a-future-dynasty-amid-coaching-chaos--UypX4?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLeh_tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHsd9b-Nj4dqylazzjO0oumx1pYcdSRjLupAdajT3mtclYWtp4vhT_8D6Kkxl_aem_2B_44AZjaD6rCsnj2chanA