[OutsiderFan]

At this time of year, all I'm interested in is the best match-up for program bragging rights and brand credibility, and an opponent that avoids the "yawn factor" that plagues so many disappointed teams in bowl games.  This means preference in order of the most better team by record or ranking possible, then by program traditional power perception.  This pretty much rules out any desire to go to the Las Vegas bowl.  No Pac-12 program ever gets any residual value from knocking off a MWC team, and frankly, it's not much of a reward for the Pac-12 team; it has a high "yawn potential."

For starters, is there any way Stanford can be matched up against a ranked team?  It would be pretty cool for Stanford to lay claim to the fact it is I'm guessing the only program in the country that played seven ranked opponents in 2014.  It may be the only one to have played six as well, but knocking off 2/7 ranked opponents, including two in a row, can salvage the season.
Then, are there any 8-4 or even 9-3 teams Stanford can play? 

What about chances to get matched up with traditional power like Oklahoma, Texas, Clemson, or Miami? 

Avoid Las Vegas at all costs.  Doing so would open up the opportunity to play a Power 5 conference team in the bowl game.

All things considered, the best matchup IMO, would be potentially #23ish Minnesota in the Drumstick Bowl.  You get a ranked team (especially if they play Wisconsin close), the B1G West runner-up (against the Pac-12 North runner-up), teams that play similar styles, basically a home game in a great new stadium, and an opponent Stanford should handle well.

[OutsiderFan]

At this time of year, all I'm interested in is the best match-up for program bragging rights and brand credibility, and an opponent that avoids the "yawn factor" that plagues so many disappointed teams in bowl games.  This means preference in order of the most better team by record or ranking possible, then by program traditional power perception.  This pretty much rules out any desire to go to the Las Vegas bowl.  No Pac-12 program ever gets any residual value from knocking off a MWC team, and frankly, it's not much of a reward for the Pac-12 team; it has a high "yawn potential."

For starters, is there any way Stanford can be matched up against a ranked team?  It would be pretty cool for Stanford to lay claim to the fact it is I'm guessing the only program in the country that played seven ranked opponents in 2014.  It may be the only one to have played six as well, but knocking off 2/7 ranked opponents, including two in a row, can salvage the season.
Then, are there any 8-4 or even 9-3 teams Stanford can play? 

What about chances to get matched up with traditional power like Oklahoma, Texas, Clemson, or Miami? 

Avoid Las Vegas at all costs.  Doing so would open up the opportunity to play a Power 5 conference team in the bowl game.

All things considered, the best matchup IMO, would be potentially #23ish Minnesota in the Drumstick Bowl.  You get a ranked team (especially if they play Wisconsin close), the B1G West runner-up (against the Pac-12 North runner-up), teams that play similar styles, basically a home game in a great new stadium, and an opponent Stanford should handle well.