12-01-2024, 09:36 AM
Addendum after yesterday's results:
There is still the conference championship, bowl, and playoff season ahead to provide the final verdict on where teams stand, but as of now we are Sagarin #97 (#101 last year), SP+ #100 (#108 last year), and FEI #79 (#85 last year). Clear picture of the second worst Power Four team in the country (third worst Power Five if you include Oregon State) and slightly improved over last year. While I find this level of play unacceptable, managing to be slightly improved compared to Taylor's first year sets up a potential trajectory of year-to-year improvement. Still unclear whether we are building well enough to reach exit velocity into the realm of competitive programs but, especially coupled with the Luck news and rumblings of greater university focus in multiple dimensions, we need to keep grinding and trying to sell this as a credible rebuild.
The offense currently ranks as SP+ #90 (#95 last year), FEI #95 (#72 last year), scoring #105 (#112 last year), and yards per play #124 (#110 last year). One can make a case there was slight improvement but it's just as easy to make a case there wasn't.
The defense currently ranks as SP+ #109 (#116 last year), FEI #85 (#115 last year), scoring #116 (#132 last year), and yards per play #124 (#110 last year). More clear cut case that the defense modestly improved but it was modest.
The special teams currently ranks as SP+ #25 (#36 last year) and FEI #20 (#5 last year). It's much harder to improve at something when you're already good and the bottom line is special teams has been a strength both years under this staff.
As the current Sagarin rankings stand, here are our 2024 games ranked in terms of how impressive the game's final score was:
1) Beating Louisville 38-35: Befitting #17
2) Winning @ Syracuse 26-24: Befitting #28
3) Losing @ Cal 21-24: Befitting #64
4) Beating Cal Poly 41-7: Befitting #65
5) Losing to TCU 27-34: Befitting #70
6) Losing @ San Jose State 31-34: Befitting #99
7) Losing @ Clemson 14-40: Befitting #119
7) Losing to Wake Forest 24-27: Befitting #119
9) Losing @ Notre Dame 7-49: Befitting #142
10) Losing to SMU 10-40: Befitting #148
11) Losing to Virginia Tech 7-31: Befitting #157
12) Losing @ NC State 28-59: Befitting #196
In the end, we played two good games this year and five that weren't embarrassing with seven that were embarrassing and four that were humiliating.
One of the five worst teams in Stanford history....but arguably better than last year if you really squint. Hopefully next year we won't have to squint.
There is still the conference championship, bowl, and playoff season ahead to provide the final verdict on where teams stand, but as of now we are Sagarin #97 (#101 last year), SP+ #100 (#108 last year), and FEI #79 (#85 last year). Clear picture of the second worst Power Four team in the country (third worst Power Five if you include Oregon State) and slightly improved over last year. While I find this level of play unacceptable, managing to be slightly improved compared to Taylor's first year sets up a potential trajectory of year-to-year improvement. Still unclear whether we are building well enough to reach exit velocity into the realm of competitive programs but, especially coupled with the Luck news and rumblings of greater university focus in multiple dimensions, we need to keep grinding and trying to sell this as a credible rebuild.
The offense currently ranks as SP+ #90 (#95 last year), FEI #95 (#72 last year), scoring #105 (#112 last year), and yards per play #124 (#110 last year). One can make a case there was slight improvement but it's just as easy to make a case there wasn't.
The defense currently ranks as SP+ #109 (#116 last year), FEI #85 (#115 last year), scoring #116 (#132 last year), and yards per play #124 (#110 last year). More clear cut case that the defense modestly improved but it was modest.
The special teams currently ranks as SP+ #25 (#36 last year) and FEI #20 (#5 last year). It's much harder to improve at something when you're already good and the bottom line is special teams has been a strength both years under this staff.
As the current Sagarin rankings stand, here are our 2024 games ranked in terms of how impressive the game's final score was:
1) Beating Louisville 38-35: Befitting #17
2) Winning @ Syracuse 26-24: Befitting #28
3) Losing @ Cal 21-24: Befitting #64
4) Beating Cal Poly 41-7: Befitting #65
5) Losing to TCU 27-34: Befitting #70
6) Losing @ San Jose State 31-34: Befitting #99
7) Losing @ Clemson 14-40: Befitting #119
7) Losing to Wake Forest 24-27: Befitting #119
9) Losing @ Notre Dame 7-49: Befitting #142
10) Losing to SMU 10-40: Befitting #148
11) Losing to Virginia Tech 7-31: Befitting #157
12) Losing @ NC State 28-59: Befitting #196
In the end, we played two good games this year and five that weren't embarrassing with seven that were embarrassing and four that were humiliating.
One of the five worst teams in Stanford history....but arguably better than last year if you really squint. Hopefully next year we won't have to squint.