Tag: stanford cardinal

Oct 25, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Mason Heintschel (6) passes against the North Carolina State Wolfpack during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pitt faces Stanford, careful to not overlook the Cardinal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Streaking Pittsburgh gets a final tune-up before a regular-season-ending gauntlet when the Panthers trek across the country to take on Stanford in an Atlantic Coast Conference game Saturday afternoon in Stanford, Calif.

Led by freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, the Panthers (6-2, 4-1 ACC) have exploded for 165 points during a four-game winning streak that has allowed them to vault into the ACC title-game picture.

The Panthers will get a shot at one of the teams ahead of them — Georgia Tech — when they finish the regular season with matchups against No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 10 Miami sandwiching a showdown against the No. 8 Yellow Jackets.

But first things first, and Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi has warned his team not to overlook Stanford, which has played well at home this season.

“It’s a one-game season right now,” he insisted to reporters on Monday. “Our focus is to go 1-0 this week.”

Heintschel became the first Power Four conference freshman this season to pass for 400 yards and three touchdowns in a game when he threw for 423 yards in last week’s 53-34 home win over North Carolina State.

The ACC named the Ohio native as its Rookie of the Week.

The Panthers will see a Stanford (3-5, 2-3) team that’s looked completely different at home than on the road this season. The Cardinal has gone 3-0 at home, including a 20-13 win over Florida State in their most recent outing in front of their fans on Oct. 18, but have yet to win (0-5) on the road, the most recent defeat a 42-7 thumping at Miami last week.

The Cardinal retain a shot at making a bowl but need to beat the Panthers to keep those hopes alive.

“Everything is still in front of us,” Stanford interim head coach Frank Reich reminded reporters this week. “We’re 3-0 at home; that means something. We’re proud of that; we’re looking to build upon that. We know that’s going to be a challenge against a good team, but we’ve had some other good teams come in here and we just got to play good football. That’s what it comes down to.”

Running back Cole Tabb led the way against Florida State with 118 rushing yards and one TD on 28 carries, but he was limited by Miami to 64 yards on 19 attempts.

Micah Ford leads Stanford with 425 rushing yards, followed by Tabb at 376 in seven games. Ben Gulbranson has passed for 1,585 yards, eight TDs and seven interceptions in eight games.

– Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Joshua Moore (3) carries the football against Stanford Cardinal cornerback Lonnie McAllister III (24) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Mark Fletcher Jr.’s 3 TDs lead No. 9 Miami past Stanford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mark Fletcher Jr. ran for a career-high three touchdowns to lead the host Miami Hurricanes to a 42-7 victory over the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday night in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Fletcher Jr. totaled 106 yards on 23 carries and scored all three of his touchdowns in the third quarter to help the No. 9-ranked Hurricanes (6-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) break open a close game by scoring the game’s final 42 points after trailing 7-0 for most of the first half.

Stanford (3-5, 2-3) has still not won back-to-back games this season and dropped to 0-5 on the road.

The Hurricanes were held scoreless until Carson Beck lobbed a fade pass into the corner of the end zone, which C.J. Daniels snagged despite tight coverage for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:15 left in the second quarter.

Miami’s defense forced a pair of turnovers, which helped the Hurricanes score 21 more points in the third quarter, including a pair of Fletcher touchdown runs that followed interceptions by Wesley Bissainthe and Xavier Lucas, who also recorded a sack.

Fletcher’s first touchdown from 1 yard out with 9:34 left in the third broke a 7-7 tie. Malachi Toney caught five passes for 52 yards and set up that score with a 31-yard punt return to the Stanford 40-yard line.

Beck bounced back from a dismal performance in last week’s loss to Louisville where he threw four interceptions. Beck did not turn the ball over and completed 21 of 28 passes for 189 yards and the lone touchdown toss.

Cardinal quarterback Ben Gulbranson put Stanford ahead with 4:35 left in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Caden High, which capped a 12-play, 74-yard drive. Stanford mustered only 70 total yards following that opening series.

But Gulbranson was held to only 50 yards passing on 9 of 21 attempts and threw the two costly interceptions in the third quarter. Gulbranson was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Elijah Brown, who completed 3 of 5 passes for 39 yards on one drive.

Stanford has some success rushing the ball led by Cole Tabb, who followed up his strong performance against Florida State last week with 64 yards on 19 carries.

–Field Level Media

Sep 6, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; SMU Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee looks on during the game between the SMU Mustangs and the Baylor Bears at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Kevin Jennings, defense lift SMU over Stanford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kevin Jennings passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns and Justin Medlock returned a fourth-quarter interception 96 yards for a score as SMU outlasted Stanford 34-10 on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash in Dallas.

Jennings hit on 22 of his 30 passes and connected with Chris Johnson Jr. and Derrick McFall on scoring tosses. Johnson added 96 yards rushing on just five carries that included an 87-yard TD run for the Mustangs (4-2, 2-0 ACC), who won their second straight game.

The Cardinal (2-4, 1-2 ACC) got 278 passing yards and a touchdown from quarterback Ben Gulbranson but was held without points twice on drives inside the SMU 5-yard line. CJ Williams hauled in seven throws for 109 yards and a TD for Stanford.

SMU took the lead on a 19-yard Jennings-to-McFall touchdown pass with 2:39 to play in the first quarter that capped a 13-play, 75-yard march. Sam Keltner added a 32-yard field goal with 12:30 left in the second quarter to expand the Mustangs’ lead to 10-0.

The game turned in a major way in the final two minutes of the second quarter. Stanford reeled off an 18-play, 73-yard march that consumed almost 10 minutes but was turned away on fourth down and goal at the SMU 1 when Micah Ford was stopped short of the goal line.

After four plays gave SMU a little room to work, Johnson rolled around right end and sprinted down the sideline for an 87-yard score to make it 17-0 with just 35 seconds to play until halftime.

That was enough time for the Cardinal to answer, with Gulbranson hitting four straight passes to move 75 yards and culminating the possession with a 14-yard TD pass to CJ Williams with two seconds left.

Jennings was Houdini-like in working his way out of trouble in the backfield before finding Johnson for a wild 42-yard catch and run for a touchdown that expanded SMU’s lead to 24-7 with 8:22 to play in the third quarter.

Emmet Kenney’s 34-yard field goal with 34 seconds left in the third got Stanford within 24-10. The Cardinal again drove to the shadow of the SMU end zone with over six minutes remaining before Medlock stepped in front of a Gulbranson pass, intercepted it and rambled nearly the length of the field to cement the win for the Mustangs.

Keltner capped the scoring with a 48-yard field goal with 1:32 to play.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Zach Johnson (38) celebrates with linebacker Tevarua Tafiti (11) during the second quarter against the San Jose State Spartans at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Stanford storms back, escapes with 1-point victory over San Jose State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sedrick Irvin scored on a 1-yard run with 19 seconds left to lift Stanford to a 30-29 win against visiting San Jose State on Saturday night in Stanford, Calif.

The Cardinal drove 80 yards in 12 plays on the final drive, getting a first down on fourth-and-10 on a 34-yard catch by Caden High with 1:12 remaining.

Stanford quarterback Ben Gulbranson recorded 444 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-43 passing.

CJ Williams caught 12 passes for 138 yards, and High caught five passes for 110 yards for the Cardinal (2-3).

San Jose quarterback Walker Eget completed 36-of-58 passes for 481 yards and three touchdowns.

Three receivers went over 100 yards for the Spartans (1-3).

Kyri Shoels caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, Danny Scudero caught 11 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, and Leland Smith finished with six receptions for 101 yards.

Cole Tabb scored on an 8-yard run to cap an 11-play, 81-yard opening drive by Stanford and give it an early 7-0 lead.

Denis Lynch cut it to 7-3 with a 41-yard field on San Jose State’s opening drive.

The Spartans recovered a fumble at the Stanford 24 following a sack, leading to a 10-yard touchdown reception by Scudero, giving San Jose State a 10-7 lead with 55 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Lynch booted a 36-yarder to extend the lead to 13-7 with 7:59 remaining in the first half, but Stanford quickly answered with a seven-play, 77-yard drive and retook the lead, 14-13, on a 15-yard touchdown catch by Sam Roush with 4:06 left in the half.

The Spartans came back with a 29-yard touchdown grab by Shoels to move back in front 20-14 with 1:59 left in the half.

Lynch missed a 28-yarder with 59 seconds left in the half and a 29-yarder from the same right hash with 3:52 remaining in the third quarter, his sixth missed field goal of the season.

The Spartans didn’t rely on Lynch the next time they got close to the end zone, instead scoring on a 5-yard touchdown catch by Scudero. The two-point conversion try was no good, leaving the score at 26-14 with 14:15 left in the game.

Stanford then marched down the field and cut the deficit to 26-21 on a 14-yard touchdown catch by Myles Libman with 12:19 left.

Lynch came back out and nailed a 31-yard field goal from the same right hash marks to extend the lead to 29-21 with 7:50 left.

A 54-yard reception by Micah Ford helped lead Stanford to the San Jose State 18, but the Cardinal had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Emmet Kenney that cut the deficit to 29-24 with 5:54 left.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Stanford Cardinals head coach Troy Taylor during the second half at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

Stanford fires coach Troy Taylor after report of bullying

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Stanford fired Troy Taylor on Tuesday, less than one week after an ESPN report outlined instances in which he had allegedly bullied and belittled female athletic staffers during his two seasons as the Cardinal’s football coach.

Former Stanford star quarterback Andrew Luck, now the program’s general manager, announced the move.

“After continued consideration it is evident to me that our program needs a reset,” Luck said in a statement. “In consultation with university leadership I no longer believe that Coach Taylor is the right coach to lead our football program. Coach Taylor has been informed today and the change is effective immediately.”

Luck said a search for the next coach has begun, and an acting coach may be named for the 2025 season.

Taylor, 56, received a warning by the university in February 2024, with ESPN reporting that he signed a letter acknowledging that he could be fired if the conduct continued.

A few months later, he was cited in second investigation for “an ongoing pattern of concerning behavior.”

“I willingly complied with the investigations, accepted the recommendations that came out of them, and used them as a learning opportunity to grow in leadership and how I interact with others,” Taylor said in a statement released through Stanford following ESPN’s report.

“I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively and collegially with my colleagues so that we can achieve success for our football program together.”

Under Taylor’s watch, Stanford posted consecutive 3-9 seasons.

Taylor built a 30-8 record over three seasons at Sacramento State before joining the Cardinal after David Shaw — the winningest head coach in school history — stepped down following the 2022 season.

Luck, who became the Stanford GM on Nov. 30, was with the Cardinal from 2008-11.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose State Spartans quarterback Walker Eget (5) throws against the Stanford Cardinal in the second quarter at CEFCU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

San Jose State uses aerial attack to get by Stanford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Walker Eget threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning 18-yard strike to TreyShun Hurry with 1:55 left in the game, as San Jose State ended the regular season Friday with a 34-31 nonconference win over visiting Stanford.

Hurry adjusted to an underthrown back-shoulder ball in the front-left corner of the end zone, capping a three-play drive. It started at the Cardinal 37 after Isiah Revis made a diving interception of Ashton Daniels’ third-down pass over the middle.

Eget completed 33 of 49 passes with an interception for the Spartans (7-5), who await their bowl destination. His favorite target, as usual, was Nick Nash, who had eight catches for 91 yards and two scores. Nash, a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award given to the nation’s best receiver, ended the regular season with 104 receptions and 16 touchdowns.

Daniels hit 26 of 40 passes for 252 yards with a score and three interceptions for Stanford (3-9) while rushing for 91 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. His 1-yard run with 7:39 remaining gave the Cardinal a 31-27 edge.

But Stanford mistakes were the deciding factor. It not only lost the turnover battle 3-2 but committed 10 penalties for 115 yards.

Stanford initiated scoring at the 5:49 mark of the first quarter when Emmet Kenney connected on a 24-yard field goal to cap a drive of just over seven minutes. The Cardinal reached the 10 earlier in the drive but false start and holding penalties kept them out of the end zone.

San Jose State got its passing game going for 17 points in the second quarter. Eget connected with Nash for touchdown passes of 20 and 2 yards in less than four minutes, giving the Spartans a 14-3 lead with 5:25 left.

Stanford got into the end zone for the first time with 42 seconds remaining on Daniels’ 12-yard strike to Emmett Mosley V, but San Jose State took the momentum and three more points to the half. Kyler Halvorsen connected from 45 yards as time expired, making it 17-10 at the break.

–Field Level Media

Oct 26, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; California Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the third quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Ott was ruled down before scoring after a video review. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Big Game, new league: Stanford and Cal renew rivalry

Posted on | by Field Level Media

California has more at stake than just rivalry pride when it hosts Stanford in their first Big Game as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif.

Coming off a 33-25 home loss to Syracuse, Cal (5-5, 1-5 ACC) remains one win shy of bowl eligibility. The Golden Bears complete the regular season next Saturday at No. 13 SMU.

Stanford (3-7, 2-5) already is assured of its sixth straight campaign without postseason play despite a surprising 38-35 home win over then-No. 19 Louisville last week. The Cardinal finish with a non-conference matchup at San Jose State next Friday.

Cal hopes to unleash star running back Jaydn Ott on the Cardinal like it did in last year’s 27-15 road win, when the then-sophomore dominated the game with 166 yards rushing.

But the All-American candidate hasn’t come close to duplicating those kinds of numbers this year after suffering a sprained ankle in Cal’s season-opening win over UC Davis. He hasn’t rushed for more than 78 yards in any game this year, with his season high coming last week against Syracuse.

Ott isn’t the only Big Game performer who is coming off his best effort of the season. Stanford’s Ashton Daniels earned ACC Quarterback of the Week for his 298-yard, three-touchdown showing against Louisville.

Cal safety Craig Woodson said he and his teammates saw Daniels’ performance on tape and weren’t impressed.

“We still feel the same way about them. We’re coming out Saturday to dominate them,” Woodson boasted. “With them beating Louisville, it doesn’t change anything. It just makes us even more (determined) to show them y’all’s the little dogs and we’re the Bears.”

The best Stanford can do this year is finish with five wins. Cardinal coach Troy Taylor noted any season, regardless of the total number of wins, contains a lifetime memory if it includes a win over the Northern California rival.

“The games are usually decided by a touchdown, so teams do typically rise to the occasion regardless of the records and no matter what’s going on,” he observed. “It’s really what is great about college sports. Hopefully it’ll be another great one for Stanford folk.”

Cal has won the last three Big Games.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal place kicker Emmet Kenney (13) kicks a field goal during the first quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Stanford beats No. 19 Louisville on final-play field goal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Emmet Kenney kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired to lift host Stanford to a 38-35 upset of No. 19 Louisville on Saturday.

The senior’s heroics led to the crowd rushing to the field and snapped a six-game losing skid for the Cardinal (3-7, 2-5 Atlantic Coast Conference). It also capped a sensational comeback for Stanford, which trailed by 14 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

The game-winning kick was set up after Louisville (6-4, 4-3) turned it over on downs at the Stanford 45 with 5 seconds left. Louisville then committed unsportsmanlike conduct and offsides penalties to get Kenney closer.

Stanford got a season-high 298 yards passing and three touchdowns from Ashton Daniels, while freshman receiver Emmett Mosley V had 13 catches for 168 yards and three TDs.

Mosley caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Justin Lamson on a fourth-and-1 with 45 seconds left to tie the game.

Louisville appeared to have the game in hand after a 5-yard touchdown run from Duke Watson to make it 35-21 with 9:44 left. It was part of a career day for the true freshman, who stepped up after leading rusher Isaac Brown left with a shoulder injury in the first quarter.

Watson ran for 117 yards and three scores on 11 carries for the Cardinals, who rallied and appeared to take control of the game in the second half.

Stanford jumped out early. Gaethan Bernadel intercepted a Tyler Shough pass at the Louisville 25 thanks to a Zach Rowell deflection, and that led to a 41-yard field goal by Emmet Kenney.

After forcing a three and out, Daniels connected with Mosley for a 62-yard touchdown to give the hosts a 10-0 lead with 6:12 left in the opening quarter.

Watson’s 5-yard touchdown with 4:06 left in the first half gave the Cardinals their first lead at 14-13. He added a 68-yard touchdown with 4:48 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 28-13.

According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Brown suffered a shoulder contusion while being tackled on his second carry in the first quarter. The true freshman entered Saturday with the third-best rushing average in FBS at 7.6 yards per carry.

Shough finished 26-of-39 passing for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Chris Bell caught nine of those passes for 112 yards and one score, while JaCorey Brooks made nine receptions for 104 yards.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarter back CJ Bailey (16) drops the ball back for a pass during the second quarter against Stanford Cardinals at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

NC State racks up 527 yards, demolishes Stanford 59-28

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers each rushed for two touchdowns and 100 yards apiece as North Carolina State rolled to a 59-28 home victory over Stanford on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

NC State (5-4, 2-3 ACC) has won consecutive games for the first time this season, while Stanford (2-7, 1-5) lost its sixth in a row.

Smothers reached a career-high 100 yards rushing on 16 carries, while Waters totaled 115 yards on just five touches. One of Waters’ two touchdown runs came on a 94-yard breakaway in the third quarter, which followed Smothers’ 52-yard sprint to the end zone. It was a banner day for NC State’s running game, which piled up a season-high 281 yards.

Complementing the ground attack was the steady play of true freshman CJ Bailey, as he completed 18-of-20 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns. KC Concepcion caught and ran for touchdowns, totaling 46 yards on total offense on seven touches, as the Wolfpack totaled 527 offensive yards.

Stanford was paced by Ashton Daniels, who threw for 70 yards while completing 6-of-8 attempts and rushed for a game-high 129 yards and two touchdowns.

NC State scored touchdowns on four of its five first-half possessions — settling for a field goal on the other — helping it jump out to a 31-14 lead at the break. The Wolfpack kept clicking on offense in the second half, with touchdowns on each of their first four possessions after intermission.

Stanford was a combined 4-of-12 on third and fourth downs, while NC State was 7-of-11.

It was the Wolfpack’s highest scoring total of the season.

Defensively, NC State came up with three sacks, 13 tackles for losses and two turnovers.

–Field Level Media

Sep 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies running back Bhayshul Tuten (33) takes a handoff from quarterback Kyron Drones (1) against the Miami Hurricanes during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Virginia Tech seeks bounce-back effort in clash vs. Stanford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Virginia Tech will make its first-ever trip to California for an Atlantic Coast Conference football game when the Hokies visit Stanford on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams will seek to rebound from a loss to an ACC powerhouse. The emotional bounce-back figures to be tougher for one team than the other.

Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1) appeared to have upset then-No. 7 Miami on the road last week before a last-second touchdown pass was overturned. It allowed the Hurricanes to hold on for a 38-34 win and prompted Hokies coach Brent Pry to call ACC headquarters.

While dissatisfied with what he heard, Pry insisted Tuesday that this week is all about Stanford.

“We aggressively turned the page Sunday evening,” Pry said. “We addressed the matter with our players, with our staff, with our media, with our player parents, with our own wives … everybody. To play with the intensity we played with Friday night (Sept. 27), we have to pour everything into Stanford.”

The Cardinal (2-2, 1-1) will make their ACC home debut, having recorded a 26-24 win over Syracuse on Sept. 20 and a 40-14 loss to then-No. 17 Clemson last Saturday in consecutive conference road outings.

Stanford saw its starting quarterback, Ashton Daniels, leave the Clemson game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. Cardinal coach Troy Taylor announced Tuesday that Daniels was no sure thing to face the Hokies. Taylor also said that Daniels, if healthy, will have to take better care of the football.

Daniels threw three interceptions as part of an uneven performance against the Tigers. He did well on the ground, rushing 11 times for 87 yards.

“The thing about playing quarterback is you can play great 95 percent of the time,” Taylor said, “but because you handle the ball every play, if 5 percent of those reps are not good, then you probably walk away feeling you didn’t play very well.”

Per Taylor, Justin Lamson would step in for Daniels if the starter is unable to play against Virginia Tech.

The game will feature two of the top backs statistically in the ACC.

Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 141 yards in last week’s conference opener against Miami, while Stanford’s Micah Ford has the ACC’s highest total among players who have competed in two conference games with 169 yards.

–Field Level Media