[Canalejas]

Somehow I think if there were more than three scholarship FCS programs in California there would be more excitement in playing one of them every once in a while. That is, if a few of them could become the next NDSU, James Madison, or Appalachian State.

[Canalejas]

Somehow I think if there were more than three scholarship FCS programs in California there would be more excitement in playing one of them every once in a while. That is, if a few of them could become the next NDSU, James Madison, or Appalachian State.

[SamuelMcF]

Somehow I think if there were more than three scholarship FCS programs in California there would be more excitement in playing one of them every once in a while. That is, if a few of them could become the next NDSU, James Madison, or Appalachian State.

There are 4 (UC Davis, Sac State, Cal Poly, San Diego), but your point definitely stands. None of them have made a ton of noise.

San Diego has made the FCS postseason tournament consistently over the past half decade but never gone very far in it. They are also in an easier conference than the other 3.

UC Davis, Sac State, and Cal Poly are all in the Big Sky Conference, which has some upper-echelon FCS teams in it like Weber State (who has been VERY good lately), Montana, Montana State, and Eastern Washington. I think a bunch of these teams thrive on guys from less-heavily-recruited states/regions that the big boys miss, like Montana, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, the Dakotas, etc. as well as JuCo and FBS transfers.

Cal Poly was actually quite good in 2019, only losing 1 FCS game to #3 Weber State and giving Fresno State and ASU fits, but was knocked out in the 2nd round of the postseason tournament.

[SamuelMcF]

Somehow I think if there were more than three scholarship FCS programs in California there would be more excitement in playing one of them every once in a while. That is, if a few of them could become the next NDSU, James Madison, or Appalachian State.

There are 4 (UC Davis, Sac State, Cal Poly, San Diego), but your point definitely stands. None of them have made a ton of noise.

San Diego has made the FCS postseason tournament consistently over the past half decade but never gone very far in it. They are also in an easier conference than the other 3.

UC Davis, Sac State, and Cal Poly are all in the Big Sky Conference, which has some upper-echelon FCS teams in it like Weber State (who has been VERY good lately), Montana, Montana State, and Eastern Washington. I think a bunch of these teams thrive on guys from less-heavily-recruited states/regions that the big boys miss, like Montana, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, the Dakotas, etc. as well as JuCo and FBS transfers.

Cal Poly was actually quite good in 2019, only losing 1 FCS game to #3 Weber State and giving Fresno State and ASU fits, but was knocked out in the 2nd round of the postseason tournament.

[Mick]

Somehow I think if there were more than three scholarship FCS programs in California there would be more excitement in playing one of them every once in a while. That is, if a few of them could become the next NDSU, James Madison, or Appalachian State.

There are 4 (UC Davis, Sac State, Cal Poly, San Diego), but your point definitely stands. None of them have made a ton of noise.

I don't believe San Diego (or any of the Pioneer Football League teams) offers football scholarships.

[Mick]

Somehow I think if there were more than three scholarship FCS programs in California there would be more excitement in playing one of them every once in a while. That is, if a few of them could become the next NDSU, James Madison, or Appalachian State.

There are 4 (UC Davis, Sac State, Cal Poly, San Diego), but your point definitely stands. None of them have made a ton of noise.

I don't believe San Diego (or any of the Pioneer Football League teams) offers football scholarships.

[French Rage]

We choose to play P5 teams and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.

[French Rage]

We choose to play P5 teams and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.

[oman]

We're Pac12.  There is so much bias against us we have to play brutal schedules.  Our conference schedule is viewed as the powder puff schedule.

[oman]

We're Pac12.  There is so much bias against us we have to play brutal schedules.  Our conference schedule is viewed as the powder puff schedule.

[SamuelMcF]

We're Pac12.  There is so much bias against us we have to play brutal schedules.  Our conference schedule is viewed as the powder puff schedule.

No we don't. If anyone goes undefeated in the Pac while playing creampuffs in OOC, they will 100% make the playoffs. (The problem is that doesn't happen.)

[SamuelMcF]

We're Pac12.  There is so much bias against us we have to play brutal schedules.  Our conference schedule is viewed as the powder puff schedule.

No we don't. If anyone goes undefeated in the Pac while playing creampuffs in OOC, they will 100% make the playoffs. (The problem is that doesn't happen.)

[Stanfordindians1again]

Look at these schedules.  No one ever thinks the lesser team is soft or not up to the challenge.  Bottom line is win PAC games and the Championship and be ranked higher by getting W's.  
Team A vs Team B in PAC12 schedule last 5 years

A -Northwestern, ranked UCF and ND
B-Weber State, BYU, Idaho St

A - SDSU, cal Davis, Notre Dame
B-  BYU, NIU, Idaho State

A- Rice, SDSU, Notre Dame
B- Weber St, Northern Illinois, BYU

A-Kansas State, Notre Dame, Rice
B- North Dakota, BYU, San Jose State

A-Northwestern, UCF, NDame
B- Southern Utah, BYU, San Jose St

A-Stanford
B- Utah

[Stanfordindians1again]

Look at these schedules.  No one ever thinks the lesser team is soft or not up to the challenge.  Bottom line is win PAC games and the Championship and be ranked higher by getting W's.  
Team A vs Team B in PAC12 schedule last 5 years

A -Northwestern, ranked UCF and ND
B-Weber State, BYU, Idaho St

A - SDSU, cal Davis, Notre Dame
B-  BYU, NIU, Idaho State

A- Rice, SDSU, Notre Dame
B- Weber St, Northern Illinois, BYU

A-Kansas State, Notre Dame, Rice
B- North Dakota, BYU, San Jose State

A-Northwestern, UCF, NDame
B- Southern Utah, BYU, San Jose St

A-Stanford
B- Utah

[OutsiderFan]

When there is an expanded playoff, playing Notre Dame won't be nearly as meaningful as it is without an expanded playoff.

[OutsiderFan]

When there is an expanded playoff, playing Notre Dame won't be nearly as meaningful as it is without an expanded playoff.

[Goose]

I like the home and home with ND. I know it can get a bit monotonous, but it is a quality opponent with a national footprint. The games are usually pretty competitive. We get more press than we would for playing Weber St. I hope that 2024 isn't the end of the series. I may be in a distinct minority here, but I think we should renew.

[Goose]

I like the home and home with ND. I know it can get a bit monotonous, but it is a quality opponent with a national footprint. The games are usually pretty competitive. We get more press than we would for playing Weber St. I hope that 2024 isn't the end of the series. I may be in a distinct minority here, but I think we should renew.

[Papa John]

In the Harbaugh/Shaw era, Stanford is 8-4 versus UND (the 2012 overtime debacle was vacated by UND). FWIW, during that same period, we're 1-3 vs Utah and 3-3 vs Colorado.

[Papa John]

In the Harbaugh/Shaw era, Stanford is 8-4 versus UND (the 2012 overtime debacle was vacated by UND). FWIW, during that same period, we're 1-3 vs Utah and 3-3 vs Colorado.

[troyc]

I like the home and home with ND. I know it can get a bit monotonous, but it is a quality opponent with a national footprint. The games are usually pretty competitive. We get more press than we would for playing Weber St. I hope that 2024 isn't the end of the series. I may be in a distinct minority here, but I think we should renew.

Asked Shaw about this when he joined The TreeCast back in January...

Troy C

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TroyClardy/status/1352744407489888257[/tweet]

[troyc]

I like the home and home with ND. I know it can get a bit monotonous, but it is a quality opponent with a national footprint. The games are usually pretty competitive. We get more press than we would for playing Weber St. I hope that 2024 isn't the end of the series. I may be in a distinct minority here, but I think we should renew.

Asked Shaw about this when he joined The TreeCast back in January...

Troy C

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TroyClardy/status/1352744407489888257[/tweet]

[Stanfordindians1again]

agree.  I like beating the Domers.   But the other two I say we get some easier W's  :)

Guess bottom line is we just need to play better no matter who we play

[Stanfordindians1again]

agree.  I like beating the Domers.   But the other two I say we get some easier W's  :)

Guess bottom line is we just need to play better no matter who we play

[Spiny_Norman]

I guess there is no talk of reviving the Stanford-San Jose State series.

[Spiny_Norman]

I guess there is no talk of reviving the Stanford-San Jose State series.

[gailtate]

I guess there is no talk of reviving the Stanford-San Jose State series.

Which is a shame. Scheduling Sac State and/or UC Davis and dispensing with SJS makes no sense at all. However, if Brennan stays and continues to recruit well, Stanford may not want to play the Spartans anymore--for obvious reasons.

[gailtate]

I guess there is no talk of reviving the Stanford-San Jose State series.

Which is a shame. Scheduling Sac State and/or UC Davis and dispensing with SJS makes no sense at all. However, if Brennan stays and continues to recruit well, Stanford may not want to play the Spartans anymore--for obvious reasons.

[Goose]

I guess there is no talk of reviving the Stanford-San Jose State series.

Which is a shame. Scheduling Sac State and/or UC Davis and dispensing with SJS makes no sense at all. However, if Brennan stays and continues to recruit well, Stanford may not want to play the Spartans anymore--for obvious reasons.

As I understand it, SJS doesn't really want to play Stanford. The can go play somebody else and get paid a lot more than they do for a "road" game with Stanford. Stanford doesn't want a home and home, because they won't get any crowd at SJS (at least that WAS the reason in the past when Stanford had a much bigger stadium). There is apparently now some bad blood on both sides of the ledger because of past real or imagined slights/broken promises. I don't see anything changing here for quite a while.

[Goose]

I guess there is no talk of reviving the Stanford-San Jose State series.

Which is a shame. Scheduling Sac State and/or UC Davis and dispensing with SJS makes no sense at all. However, if Brennan stays and continues to recruit well, Stanford may not want to play the Spartans anymore--for obvious reasons.

As I understand it, SJS doesn't really want to play Stanford. The can go play somebody else and get paid a lot more than they do for a "road" game with Stanford. Stanford doesn't want a home and home, because they won't get any crowd at SJS (at least that WAS the reason in the past when Stanford had a much bigger stadium). There is apparently now some bad blood on both sides of the ledger because of past real or imagined slights/broken promises. I don't see anything changing here for quite a while.

[Snorlax94]

As for the original question: why do we schedule this lineup?

Money. Bigger opponents means more fans and more viewers, which leads to more money for the AD.

My preference would be to line up all local teams,I think this is what Oregon does playing teams like Portland State.

I wish we played San Jose State, and maybe Fresno State and SD State every year.

Even if those teams could sometimes beat us, local rivalries are fun and in-state road trips are doable.

The travel time impacts students’ studies, it eliminates a day of practice before or after, it means they are further away from their medical facilities afterwards. FCS games — although opponents shouldn’t be underestimated — could mean more time covering fundamentals and giving inexperienced players a gentler ramp. So many P5 opponents impacts the whole season (travel time, injuries, game planning), not just that week.

As for the entertainment value, if the team were 9-2 for the final game of the season, that would be more entertaining and attract more viewers and fans than if the team were 7-4. I don’t think those long trips to Australia, UCF, West Point, and Northwestern were worth it.

[Snorlax94]

As for the original question: why do we schedule this lineup?

Money. Bigger opponents means more fans and more viewers, which leads to more money for the AD.

My preference would be to line up all local teams,I think this is what Oregon does playing teams like Portland State.

I wish we played San Jose State, and maybe Fresno State and SD State every year.

Even if those teams could sometimes beat us, local rivalries are fun and in-state road trips are doable.

The travel time impacts students’ studies, it eliminates a day of practice before or after, it means they are further away from their medical facilities afterwards. FCS games — although opponents shouldn’t be underestimated — could mean more time covering fundamentals and giving inexperienced players a gentler ramp. So many P5 opponents impacts the whole season (travel time, injuries, game planning), not just that week.

As for the entertainment value, if the team were 9-2 for the final game of the season, that would be more entertaining and attract more viewers and fans than if the team were 7-4. I don’t think those long trips to Australia, UCF, West Point, and Northwestern were worth it.

[needle]

I agree with Snorlax. As a fan, I just don’t get excited playing Vanderbilt or Northwestern, programs that just don’t typically have any players I’ve ever heard of.

Stanford can take a chance and schedule games that do excite me, like against UCF or Texas. But there is a major risk in doing so, as wins in those “exciting” games are no sure thing.

Is the “average” Stanford fan more excited about playing K-State than they would be if Stanford were playing Rice in a big Texas site (covid notwithstanding)? I daresay not really.

[needle]

I agree with Snorlax. As a fan, I just don’t get excited playing Vanderbilt or Northwestern, programs that just don’t typically have any players I’ve ever heard of.

Stanford can take a chance and schedule games that do excite me, like against UCF or Texas. But there is a major risk in doing so, as wins in those “exciting” games are no sure thing.

Is the “average” Stanford fan more excited about playing K-State than they would be if Stanford were playing Rice in a big Texas site (covid notwithstanding)? I daresay not really.

[French Rage]

I wouldn't mind a yearly matchup with UCD or SacSt if we purposefully make it a yearly tradition.  Or even a rotating CA FCS matchup if we explicitly make it a yearly tradition.  Just don't make it look like a last-second scramble to fill the 12th game.

[French Rage]

I wouldn't mind a yearly matchup with UCD or SacSt if we purposefully make it a yearly tradition.  Or even a rotating CA FCS matchup if we explicitly make it a yearly tradition.  Just don't make it look like a last-second scramble to fill the 12th game.

[terry]

I don't ever want to play Fresno St. or San Diego St. There's no upside and they are too dangerous.

I'm agnostic on San Jose St. I would play them if we can have the game at Stanford every year, without paying a big guarantee. I doubt that SJSU would agree to that.

I kind of like playing Duke, Northwestern, Vandy, Wake Forest, Army, Rice, and the like. I've made several of the road trips for those games and I've really enjoyed them.

UC Davis, Sac St., Cal Poly, etc. are OK.  We can always use an easy win.

 I think we've seen enough of Notre Dame. I'd rather use that slot on the schedule for a rotating group of major programs. But I think we are stuck with ND for years to come. The administration and coaches seem wedded to that game. I expect it will be on our schedule for a long time.

[terry]

I don't ever want to play Fresno St. or San Diego St. There's no upside and they are too dangerous.

I'm agnostic on San Jose St. I would play them if we can have the game at Stanford every year, without paying a big guarantee. I doubt that SJSU would agree to that.

I kind of like playing Duke, Northwestern, Vandy, Wake Forest, Army, Rice, and the like. I've made several of the road trips for those games and I've really enjoyed them.

UC Davis, Sac St., Cal Poly, etc. are OK.  We can always use an easy win.

 I think we've seen enough of Notre Dame. I'd rather use that slot on the schedule for a rotating group of major programs. But I think we are stuck with ND for years to come. The administration and coaches seem wedded to that game. I expect it will be on our schedule for a long time.

[CowboyIndian]

 I think we've seen enough of Notre Dame. I'd rather use that slot on the schedule for a rotating group of major programs. But I think we are stuck with ND for years to come. The administration and coaches seem wedded to that game. I expect it will be on our schedule for a long time.

According to Swarbrick, we are their "aspirational peer". If you want to listen to some Domer hysteria, bring that quote up. LOL!

[CowboyIndian]

 I think we've seen enough of Notre Dame. I'd rather use that slot on the schedule for a rotating group of major programs. But I think we are stuck with ND for years to come. The administration and coaches seem wedded to that game. I expect it will be on our schedule for a long time.

According to Swarbrick, we are their "aspirational peer". If you want to listen to some Domer hysteria, bring that quote up. LOL!