It is hard to call this a big win for Stanford (6-4 / 4-3 PAC 12), though the scoring differential indicates as much, because simply put Oregon State (2-8 / 1-6 PAC 12) is just not very good. In a sport where you are measured against the best, this was not that. However, the team did become Bowl eligible with the 48-17 victory, and it was a solid conference win, on Senior Night, where the offense finally got back in rhythm.
On that level, Cardinal 6’8” sophomore tight end Colby Parkinson (6 receptions / 166 yards / 4 TD’s / 27.7 YPR) was a beast on The Farm versus OSU, and became the first tight end to be named PAC-12 Player of the Week in five years. The young TE showed off both his elite athleticism and size against a vulnerable Beavers secondary, though frankly I am not sure anyone can truly cover him with his natural length and abilities.
Parkinson is a sure-fire NFL talent, as is fellow Stanford end senior Kaden Smith (3 receptions / 34 yards / 11.3 YPR), who served more fundamentally as a blocker in this contest. Together they are likely the top tight end tandem in college football, though that only gives more cause for concern regarding the offensive struggles this year for The Card.
Stanford junior quarterback K.J. Costello (23 for 33 passing / 342 yards / 4 TD / 1 INT / 94.4 QBR) was also effective against Oregon State, spreading the ball around to ten different receivers on the night. It has been an up and down year for the Cardinal junior QB, but in all fairness, “Dr.” Love has been injured and his offensive line has played well below their capabilities up to this point.
Speaking of ‘The Doctor’, Stanford All-World running back Bryce Love (11 carries / 90 yards / 1 TD / 8.2 YPC) looked to be 90% healthy for the first time since the first game of the season. Just last week I wrote that Coach Shaw should sit Love for the remaining three games, in the best interests of his future in the The League, but thankfully he looks to be back at nearly full speed.
Defensively for Stanford, the linebacking corp was strong throughout against the Beavers. Senior Sean Barton (5 tackles / 2 PD / 1 QBH), junior Jordan Fox (4 tackles / 1 sack / 1 TFL / 1 QBH / 1 PD), and sophomore Gabe Reid (5 tackles / 1 QBH / 1 PD) were all impact players in both stopping the run and pass coverage.
In the secondary, senior Frank Buncom (4 tackles / 2 PD / 1 INT), junior Obi Eboh (6 tackles / 2 PD), and junior Malik Antoine (4 tackles / 1 PD) all played well for the Cardinal, helping to hold a potent OSU offense to only 17 points.
Going forward, it is BIG GAME week vs. the CAL Bears, and it does not get any bigger than that for Stanford. The oldest rivalry in the West began began back in 1892, and this will be the 121st meeting of the two schools on the football field. The Cardinal currently hold the longest winning streak in the history of the legendary rivalry, having won the last 8 since 2010. That being said this year’s matchup should be the closest in years, as both teams are 6-4 going in, and fairly evenly matched by most statistical accounts. So, while the season has certainly not gone the way Coach Shaw or the team would have liked, there is still much to play for.
Each week I finish my Stanford column with ‘Win or lose, Roll Red’, but please disregard that this week and BEAT CAL.
Comments
So all Stanford needs to look good is play a bad team
A victory vs. Berkeley is desperately needed to make this season feel better, followed by a win in whatever smaller bowl Stanford ends up in.
By worldblee on 11.12.18 1:16pm
Here is our prospective bowl ranking:
Sun Bowl Dec. 31 El Paso, Tex. ACC vs. Pac-12 Duke vs. Stanford
Whee! And for the fourth straight week, I and most of the nation won’t get to see Stanford play, because…PACN. The damage these idiots do to west coast football (sports) is enormous. NOBODY east of Utah gets to see some of our most important games. I went searching; here are the results.
"We’re sorry, Pac-12 Networks is currently unavailable in your area with DIRECTV
But we want to make it easy for you to get Pac-12 Networks with another provider. Select a provider above and sign up today!" Nearly everybody in suburban/exurban areas in the Midwest (and probably MidEast and South) goes with satellite TV.
and:
"Q: If my TV provider does not carry Pac-12 Networks what are my options?
A: The only way to gain access to Pac-12 Networks is to switch to one of the many providers that do carry the networks. We know switching providers can be a hassle so we’ve tried to make it easier for you. Visit the channel finder on this page, enter your zip code and you will be able to connect directly to one of the multiple providers in your area today." In other words, tough schiese. We’re being paid big bucks to keep you from enjoying PAC12 anything.
By jafco99 on 11.12.18 4:42pm
Ridiculous
Not sure why they don’t have online streaming. The technology is there and accessible to all.
Hoping that Stanford crushes Cal this year at Berkeley. That would be lovely.
By g8tgod on 11.12.18 5:26pm
A streaming tip
This service is sometimes a bit hit-and-miss, and the quality is not breathtaking, but it does provide most NCAA games free-of-charge. I don’t know whether this site is blocked in the US. It is available in Europe and is formally located on a URL in Montenegro. This might be a crutch for viewing games broadcast by the Pac-12 network. http://www.vipbox.me/ I never get to watch Stanford games live because they all take place during the night in Europe. The UC Davis game was the one exception this season.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 11.13.18 2:44am
Sling
Sling TV carries Pac 12 networks in its sports package. I don’t think it’s cost justified, but it’s basically the only way to watch PACN stuff here in the East.
By Brendan Ross on 11.13.18 2:24pm
Be Thankful
Of course, fans always want Stanford to win the PAC 12 and play in the Rose Bowl but it isn’t realistic to think this will happen every year.
I think we should be thankful for the success the team has had this year. After all, STANFORD PLAYED THE TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NATION SO FAR THIS YEAR with opposing teams having a winning percentage of about 71%.
We can still win out and go to a bowl. Even smaller bowls are important to the players and for the program – don’t belittle them.
By farmboy2 on 11.12.18 6:33pm
I'll be thankful and still disappointed
The two are not mutually exclusive.
I am less disappointed in this team than I am in the general trajectory of the program, which is undeniably down. I thought we would once again have a bruising O-line like in the strongest years (2010-2013); and with all-world Love back for his senior season, an improved KJ Costello under center and an awesome receiving corps, we should have been an offensive juggernaut this year.
But the reality is that we have deteriorated in the trenches; and we cannot run Shaw’s style of football without superior line-play. And I do not have much hope this will improve drastically in the near future.
So, yeah, in 2010 to 2015 we appeared in five BCS (now New Year’s 6) bowls and three mid-tier to low-level bowls since that period. Thankful for the ten straight years of bowl eligibility, disappointed in the trend and the outlook going forward.
By Jeff Tarnungus on 11.13.18 2:53am
Agree
The trend is bad. I would say that the trend started in 2014, and 2015 was an outlier year due to having everything align that year, while there’s a continuity between 14 and 16-18. While 15 was one of the finest years, the "string" of fine years was really 10-13, four years with the Orange, the Fiesta and 2 Roses.
Overall the program has been trending down for a few years. The last really great defensive year was 2014 (despite the great performance of the defense in the RB after 2015 … they didn’t have a great year in 2015). The OL had a great year in 2015, but otherwise from 2014-2018 has underperformed relative to 2010-2013.
Our ability to recruit is going to start to deteriorate too. I think we have had a LOT of quality coaching walk off the Farm, and the replacements have been inadequate — good recruits are not being developed well. I am not sure if this is a Shaw issue in terms of his hiring decisions, or an AD issue or what .. but it’s an issue.
There are many in the Pac and elsewhere who are convinced we are done with our "run", and that we are reverting to the historical mean for our program. If this continues for another year or two, that will become the dominant narrative and it will undermine recruiting and then become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
By Brendan Ross on 11.13.18 2:32pm
What to look forward to this week and next year
Sorry, but I can’t be thankful for the underperforming Cardinal this year. But with three games remaining (Cal, UCLA, and a bowl), there are some things to hope for. More passing plays in the first quarter. WSU and OSU games showed that this works. More selective use of Bryce Love. Pounding him into the middle time and time again against a loaded box is a waste of his talent. Better linebacker play, particularly by Gabe Reid. Opponents’ fear of throwing Adebo’s way. He really is good.
As usual, there are some things to look forward to next year. Costello throwing to a good, experienced receiving corps (Wedington, Fehoko, Parkinson, St. Brown, Wilson) . Three good tackles (Little, Sarell, and Hamilton), an experienced center (Dalman), and a good guard (Herbig), all with a year to get stronger. Four experienced linebackers (Barton, Reid, Robinson, and Fox). One great corner (Adebo) and one with potential (Eboh). A better defensive line (Booker, particularly, shows great potential) — if, and only if — they all work their tails off getting stronger in the off season. Running back and safety are big holes, but there are a lot of bodies on the roster in each position. Once again, its up to the coaches.
By SU74 on 11.13.18 12:21pm
Herbig is probably in the nfl next year
We got big holes at guard and right tackle. Sarrell hasn’t really been on the field all that much with the injury issues. I’d add o line to the list of rebuilding projects for next year
By stanford6thman on 11.13.18 7:08pm
The television coverage is complete craziness, but such are first world problems I imagine.
I am 100% thankful for the effort and energy this Stanford team has played with throughout the year, they were just a play or two short in a couple big games that would have changed everything. While this season could have been very different, there is still a great deal to play for, and in terms of a bright ’19 I think SU74 nailed it in his breakdown. Most important of all however, is the 121st BIG GAME this week in Berkeley. Go Cardinal. BEAT CAL.
By Max McArthur on 11.13.18 2:02pm