What, Me Worry? A Look at Stanford's 2011 Schedule

by Scott Allen on Aug 11, 2025 10:35 AM PDT

Ask David Shaw what team he's most worried about playing this season and I think there's a good chance he'll answer San Jose State, the Cardinal's opponent in the season opener on September 3. One game at a time and all that, even if the Spartans would seem to stand about as much of a chance against Stanford as former SJSU QB Jeff Garcia in a beard-growing contest with Andrew Luck.

Looking at Stanford's back-loaded 2011 schedule, it's easy to look ahead to the trip to USC on October 29 and assume the Cardinal will be 7-0. I certainly hope the first two months of the season are drama-free, but I'm prepared for some nail-biting moments. Expectations on the Farm are higher than they've been in quite some time -- perhaps ever -- and Stanford is in the unusual position of being the team with the target on its back from Week 1.

In today's Stanford Daily, Jacob Jaffe runs through Stanford's schedule and offers his worry factor for each game. Jaffe's worry level ranges from "subzero" (San Jose State) to "the only reason I'm not shaking in my boots is because I'm not wearing boots" (Oregon), which seems about right. Jaffe's column and ESPN's look at potential landmines for top 10 teams (Insider subscription required) got me thinking about which games I'm most worried about this season.

The Oregon game on Nov. 12 obviously tops my list. It's followed closely by Stanford's trip to the Coliseum, Big Game, and finally Notre Dame, given how huge the stakes could be in the Cardinal's regular season finale. I would bet that most fans consider those four games the most worrisome on the schedule, but maybe not. Let me know in the comments.

Besides those four games, which will be played in the span of a brutal 5 weeks, the game I'm most worried about is Oregon State in Corvallis on Nov. 5. The Beavers aren't expected to be especially good this season. They lost stud running back Jacquizz Rodgers and defensive tackle Stephen Paea to the NFL and they've battled injuries this offseason. Still, I have the same feeling about the Oregon State game as I did about the Cardinal's trip to Arizona State last year. It's sandwiched between a difficult game at USC and marquee matchup with Oregon, and I still have bitter memories of Stanford's loss to the Beavers the last time they traveled to Corvallis.

So what do you think? Should I stop worrying about the Beavers and start worrying about San Jose State?

Poll

Excluding the Oregon, USC, Cal, and Notre Dame games, which game worries you the most this season?

vs. San Jose State

0 votes

at Duke

0 votes

at Arizona

63 votes

vs. UCLA

4 votes

vs. Colorado

2 votes

at Washington State

5 votes

vs. Washington

13 votes

at Oregon State

27 votes

114 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Also

Navy scares me to death

by cfn_ms on Aug 11, 2025 11:00 AM PDT reply actions

I was tempted to pick Wazzu

In part due to the game last year, it being in Pullman, and the fact that other than these past few years, we’re really not good against them. But I ultimately went with the Arizona game.

Can’t wait to see what kind of trash is raining down from the student section this year in Tucson!

by RedOscar on Aug 11, 2025 1:08 PM PDT reply actions

I’m a bit surprised to see that not many folks think Washington will be a problem. Perhaps that’s because it’s a home game, but given the recent crowds against teams not named Cal, Oregun, or U$C, that may be over-estimating the home-field advantage.

Of course, it could just be that you don’t rate UW very much, and think all the hype and excitement surrounding them is just a bunch of wishful thinking. In either case, that one does certainly seem like it could be the perfect trap game.

"Thanks. Go Bears!" - Ernest Owusu: the next great Cal DE

by SoCal Oski on Aug 11, 2025 1:17 PM PDT reply actions

Or it could be the fact that we beat them 41-0 last year, or that we pounded a ranked Husky team at home after they came off defeating USC two years ago.

by RedOscar on Aug 11, 2025 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions

But you should certainly be aware that past performance is not even close to a guarantee of future success, particularly in sports.

If so, we should have stomped you guys like flabby grapes in the Big Game last year, regardless of record, injury, etc.

Besides, it’s the casually dismissive attitude you display that makes Washington a perfect trap game.

Like I said, either you believe that home-field advantage is in your favor, or you simply don’t rate Washington. I think I got my answer.

"Thanks. Go Bears!" - Ernest Owusu: the next great Cal DE

by SoCal Oski on Aug 12, 2025 10:08 AM PDT up reply actions

this isn't the stock market

actually, the outcome of BG 2010 supports the view that past success is an idicator of future performance, given that Stanford has a winning record in both and home and away games in the series…

while past performance doesn’t “guarantee” success, barring huge turnover in personnel, it does give a fair expectation.

but you’re wrong about the home field advantage. look at Stanford’s record the past two seasons home (12-1, 8-1) and away (7-4, 6-3) and it’s clear that home field is important to Stanford. crowd size is not the only factor of home field advantage (sleeping in your own bed, not traveling, home cooking, etc are probably more important than a loud home crowd.)

aside from the games against Cal, Oregon, and perhaps Notre Dame, I think every away game is more likely to result in a loss than every home game. I’m more worried about playing Duke after a 3,000 mile trip than playing Washington at home.

by farmerboy99 on Aug 14, 2025 11:09 PM PDT up reply actions

and you should - obviously - be aware of the fact that despite UW's youth ...

… it has one of the deepest / biggest emerging D-Lines in the PAC. One that came into its own in the Holiday Bowl domination of Nebraska … a team that had also whipped UW in the last regular season.

Washington is a trap game for you guys given the fact that you crushed us last year and that it will be in Palo Alto. That said, I don’t necessarily disagree with you voting for Arizona. OSU, on the other hand, is shadow of the team it was two years ago. That one baffles me.

Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon

by Gekko Mojo on Aug 13, 2025 7:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Went with OSU

They are always sneaky good, especially when you least expect it.

by RickeySteals on Aug 11, 2025 10:38 PM PDT reply actions

Obviosly the game against the ducks will be tough.

But Washington looks like a sleeper.

"you owe it to yourself to be the best in baseball and in life" Pete rose.
F the jets, bills, patriots and cryboys...and sooners, but go phins, longhorns, dodgers and stanford!
Aaron Murray..Future Dolphins qb.
Tom Brandstater > Chuck Norris

by dolger14 on Aug 12, 2025 10:39 AM PDT via mobile reply actions