[DC 86]

Philosophically, I've always thought of Stanford football as a small-market team that occasionally competes.

I think of Stanford football as a large-market team that has chosen a business model that results in occasionally competing (sort of like the Mets under the Wilpons' ownership).

Stanford (and its wealthy alumni base) has the financial resources to compete on any operational level (facilities, staff salaries, marketing etc) as well as to be a major player in the NIL era (see Phil Knight/Kayvon Thibodeaux). It's a conscious decision to operate as a "small-market team". Admissions is a legitimate issue that also may keep Stanford in the "small-market" cohort, but again it's Stanfords choice to maintain the standards that it does.

[DC 86]

Philosophically, I've always thought of Stanford football as a small-market team that occasionally competes.

I think of Stanford football as a large-market team that has chosen a business model that results in occasionally competing (sort of like the Mets under the Wilpons' ownership).

Stanford (and its wealthy alumni base) has the financial resources to compete on any operational level (facilities, staff salaries, marketing etc) as well as to be a major player in the NIL era (see Phil Knight/Kayvon Thibodeaux). It's a conscious decision to operate as a "small-market team". Admissions is a legitimate issue that also may keep Stanford in the "small-market" cohort, but again it's Stanfords choice to maintain the standards that it does.