2016 record: 10-3, 6-3 Pac-12
Coach: David Shaw (seventh year)
Sked or alive? No game will be tougher than USC in L.A. in Week 2; no stretch will be tougher than Oct. 7-Nov. 10. Stanford visits Utah, Oregon State and Washington State – all tough outs – in a four-game span. After Pullman, Stanford faces Washington on a short week. That didn’t go well last year.
Why they’re here: Like Wisconsin, Stanford will do its thing – play physical football from start to finish. The early reports on QB Keller Chryst’s recovery from knee surgery are positive. The Cardinal just isn’t quite in the same class as the Huskies and Trojans.
