According to Jon Wilner's sources, Stanford was caught off guard by Jim Harbaugh's departure. Wilner also says that Bob Bowlsby's coaching search could be winding down.  | College Hotline

As jterry94 noted, the list of potential candidates would seem to be shrinking. Former Tulsa head coach Todd Graham was hired by Pitt and Michigan grabbed San Diego State's Brady Hoke. | New York Times

Oliver Luck says the estimates of how much money his son is leaving on the table by deciding to return to Stanford are inflated. | Washington Post

Mark Schlabach ranks Stanford ninth in his admittedly way-too-early 2011 top 25 and adds, "depending on who Stanford hires to replace Harbaugh, the Cardinal might have a chance to contend for another BCS bowl spot or even more in 2011. To give you an idea of just how ridiculous this exercise is, Auburn was unranked in Schlabach's 2010 edition. | ESPN

Because predictions are fun: Wilner ranks Stanford 10th in his 2011 poll. | College Hotline

A Florida-based reporter ranks Stanford No. 5 without Harbaugh. | Orlando Sentinel

Stanford is ranked fourth behind Auburn, TCU, and Oregon in a less absurd postseason top 25. | The Daily Axe

Nneka Ogwumike and Kayla Pedersen were named to the midseason Wooden Award watchlist. | GoStanford.com

Johnny Dawkins and the Cardinal host a "very, very dangerous offensive team" in Washington on Thursday. | Mercury News