Andrew Luck has overseen an unprecedented quantity of motion in his first season as Stanford’s basic supervisor.
The Cardinal welcomed 17 transfers for the 2025 season, greater than all in earlier seasons mixed (14), and Luck employed his former coach with the Indianapolis Colts, Frank Reich, to take over on an interim foundation after Troy Taylor was fired simply earlier than spring camp.
A nationwide viewers will now see if it was sufficient to show round a staff that has completed 3-9 in every of the previous 4 seasons when the Cardinal will face Hawaii Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on CBS.
Expectations aren’t excessive — Stanford was picked to complete final within the 17-team ACC within the convention’s preseason media ballot, and the Cardinal is a slight underdog towards their Mountain West opponent on Saturday. Listed here are the keys for the Cardinal to get off to a profitable begin:
DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE
Probably the most notable switch is sixth-year QB Ben Gulbranson, who made 12 begins in 5 years at Oregon State and postpone medical college to play a closing season at Stanford.
Gulbranson’s expertise – he was 7-1 as a starter in 2022 – helped him win the beginning job over redshirt freshman Elijah Brown. However the Ventura County native has had lower than 4 months with this system since arriving after spring camp.
“I believe it’s simply quite a lot of change actually quick, and actually the No. 1 problem is attempting to develop into accustomed to the playbook and get that down,” Gulbranson mentioned. “I need to get to a degree the place it simply comes routinely, and that takes time.”
WR TARGETS
Gulbranson can have a model new set of targets, as Stanford and Utah State are the one groups within the nation returning one or fewer receptions from their large receivers.
The anticipated starters are Wisconsin switch CJ Williams, South Carolina State switch Caden Excessive, and speedy sixth-year Bryce Farrell, who missed most of final season attributable to harm.
They might want to make up for the lack of Tennessee Titans receiver Elic Ayomanor and transfers Emmett Mosley V (Texas), Ismael Cisse (Arkansas) and Mudia Reuben (South Florida).
Gulbranson can have one of many high tight ends within the convention in senior Sam Roush, who was third on the staff final yr in receptions (40) and receiving yards (344).
However freshman JonAnthony Corridor, a unanimous four-star recruit from Indiana, is probably going unavailable Saturday attributable to an harm suffered throughout fall camp.
PASS DEFENSE
Stanford ranked 131st out of 134 FBS groups in passing yards allowed (280.6) final season, and now should face a pass-happy Hawaii offense led by redshirt freshman Micah Alejado.
In Alejado’s solely begin final season, the finale towards New Mexico, he turned the one FBS participant to throw for 450 yards and run for 50 yards in a sport that season. He completed with 469 passing yards and 5 TDs.
Alejado’s targets this season embody Stanford switch Jackson Harris, Kentucky switch Brandon White, and all-Mountain West choices Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cenacle.
Whereas the Cardinal doesn’t have any gamers who acquired all-conference recognition – defensive finish David Bailey, their most highly-regarded participant, transferred to Texas Tech after Taylor was fired – they do have new management in co-defensive coordinator Andy Thompson, who had succeeded Taylor because the coach at Sacramento State.
“Not going to spoil something proper now, however we’re going to be actually bodily within the run sport and the cross sport, and I can’t wait to point out it on week zero,” Cardinal edge Tevarau Tafiti mentioned.
HOT WEATHER
Reich is hoping that his depth will assist get by a mid-day sport the place the anticipated situations are 87 levels with average humidity.
“We need to unfold the ball round, we need to rotate guys out and in,” Reich mentioned. “We need to get everyone on the sector. It doesn’t at all times occur, however that’s what you’re entering into and attempting to do, particularly in Hawaii, the place it’ll be scorching and humid.”
The sport can be performed on the 15,000-seat Ching Advanced whereas Aloha Stadium is being rebuilt. Stanford does have latest expertise there – the Cardinal gained its 2023 season opener at Hawaii 37-24.
“We’ve an incredible sports activities science employees who put quite a lot of effort,” Reich mentioned. “We would like the gamers to only concentrate on soccer, the sport plan, and the way we’re making ready to execute there. After which attempt to take the journey and the time distinction and the warmth, humidity, simply take that out of the equation one of the best we will. Take all the best steps to arrange for that after which simply go play soccer.”
