[Giants]

https://www.si.com/college/2022/07/14/po...ig-ten-acc

16. Clemson
17. Stanford
18. UCLA

If true, Stanford probably can go independent for Football and make a decent amount of money for itself. This might make the most sense at this point until a Big Ten or ACC arrangement materializes.

Stanford could schedule:

Cal, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Army, Navy, and Air Force, maybe Rice, and then one powerhouse just to create an attraction at Stanford Stadium to sell tickets. Washington, Oregon, and any other Big Ten, SEC, or ACC that would make for a compelling opponent.

This doesn't address Bowl game affiliations. That's a discussion for another day.

Independence isn’t realistic without a broadcasting partner.  Without a significant contract to make every home football game available to a wide audience (see Notre Dame), the financials necessary to support the entire AD are not sustainable.  Once you take emotion out of the equation and look at the matter strictly with a cold eye concerned only about ROI, I don’t believe that Stanford meets the national football interest test. The Cardinal needs a strong conference affiliation.

[Giants]

https://www.si.com/college/2022/07/14/po...ig-ten-acc

16. Clemson
17. Stanford
18. UCLA

If true, Stanford probably can go independent for Football and make a decent amount of money for itself. This might make the most sense at this point until a Big Ten or ACC arrangement materializes.

Stanford could schedule:

Cal, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Army, Navy, and Air Force, maybe Rice, and then one powerhouse just to create an attraction at Stanford Stadium to sell tickets. Washington, Oregon, and any other Big Ten, SEC, or ACC that would make for a compelling opponent.

This doesn't address Bowl game affiliations. That's a discussion for another day.

Independence isn’t realistic without a broadcasting partner.  Without a significant contract to make every home football game available to a wide audience (see Notre Dame), the financials necessary to support the entire AD are not sustainable.  Once you take emotion out of the equation and look at the matter strictly with a cold eye concerned only about ROI, I don’t believe that Stanford meets the national football interest test. The Cardinal needs a strong conference affiliation.