[ADPinWDC]

Thanks much for the in-depth work, msqueri 

Why are we still stuck in Purgatory at 3-9?

Offensive Line is not competitive. From 2009-2017, we were.  
Harbaugh started there, and got Luck in 2008.
Defensive secondary has deteriorated. We have not kept pace.
We seem to get decent (but not 5-star) skill position players.

We are back now to #126 in USA on Average Game Scoring Margin at -17.6 average per game.
https://www.teamrankings.com/college-foo...ing-margin

Last year we finished #130, 
Sure -- it's an imperfect stat (multiple factors combined), but highly correlated with our success, or not.

In 2015 (McCaffrey, Rose Bowl), Stanford was #8 on that Stat list at +15 points per game,
finishing #3 in country after thrashing IOWA in Rose Bowl.  That was the peak year. 
McCaffrey, Love and Hogan came well AFTER Harbaugh.  Ditto with JJArcegaW and Ty Montgomery.
2009 was the big jump up to 21st in USA to +9 points margin per game, from barely negative in 2008. 
Vic Fangio [Now DefCo at NFL Eagles] worked his magic in 2010 on the 3-4 Defense. 
One year; left with Harbaugh to Niners.

[ADPinWDC]

Thanks much for the in-depth work, msqueri 

Why are we still stuck in Purgatory at 3-9?

Offensive Line is not competitive. From 2009-2017, we were.  
Harbaugh started there, and got Luck in 2008.
Defensive secondary has deteriorated. We have not kept pace.
We seem to get decent (but not 5-star) skill position players.

We are back now to #126 in USA on Average Game Scoring Margin at -17.6 average per game.
https://www.teamrankings.com/college-foo...ing-margin

Last year we finished #130, 
Sure -- it's an imperfect stat (multiple factors combined), but highly correlated with our success, or not.

In 2015 (McCaffrey, Rose Bowl), Stanford was #8 on that Stat list at +15 points per game,
finishing #3 in country after thrashing IOWA in Rose Bowl.  That was the peak year. 
McCaffrey, Love and Hogan came well AFTER Harbaugh.  Ditto with JJArcegaW and Ty Montgomery.
2009 was the big jump up to 21st in USA to +9 points margin per game, from barely negative in 2008. 
Vic Fangio [Now DefCo at NFL Eagles] worked his magic in 2010 on the 3-4 Defense. 
One year; left with Harbaugh to Niners.