[JeffInCorvallis]

How about this: while Stanford may not be playing at the level we have in years past, the rest of the conference has gotten better.

Conference head coaches in 2013 (hand-picked sample):

Rich Rodriquez
Todd Graham
Steve Sarkisian
Jim Mora
Lane Kiffin
Mark Helfrich
Sonny Dykes

Fast-forward to 2019 and I think there are clear upgrades for all of our opponents in the coaching department. Some might argue with me on Kevin Sumlin. For the forseeable future we're going to have to play Chip Kelly, Chris Peterson, The Pirate and Mario Cristobal every year with an occasional appearance by Kyle Wittingham (yes, I know Wittingham was there in 2013). David Shaw can hold his own against those guys but there's not any margin for error.

[JeffInCorvallis]

How about this: while Stanford may not be playing at the level we have in years past, the rest of the conference has gotten better.

Conference head coaches in 2013 (hand-picked sample):

Rich Rodriquez
Todd Graham
Steve Sarkisian
Jim Mora
Lane Kiffin
Mark Helfrich
Sonny Dykes

Fast-forward to 2019 and I think there are clear upgrades for all of our opponents in the coaching department. Some might argue with me on Kevin Sumlin. For the forseeable future we're going to have to play Chip Kelly, Chris Peterson, The Pirate and Mario Cristobal every year with an occasional appearance by Kyle Wittingham (yes, I know Wittingham was there in 2013). David Shaw can hold his own against those guys but there's not any margin for error.