Go Joe Bruin continues to look at the 2016 UCLA Football schedule with a preview of the Stanford Cardinal in the first conference game of the season.
Eight games. That is the current streak the Stanford Cardinal have over the UCLA Football team. For Bruin fans, enough is enough. Bruin Head Coach Jim Mora has a few hurdles he has to overcome and defeating the Mighty Cardnal is one of them.
Related Story: UCLA Football: 50 Things To Look for in 2016
This season both UCLA and Stanford were selected to win their respective divisions at Pac-12 Media Day, with the Cardinal chosen to win the Pac-12 Conference.
That makes the Week 4 meeting between these two teams one of the more important in the conference schedule.
This year, it could be different, especially with Stanford losing several key players including Bruin killer QB Kevin Hogan and three players on their offensive line. Though that seems like a chance for UCLA to pounce, one should never count out the mind of Stanford Head Coach David Shaw, who has never lost to Mora.
2015 Record and Recap
Stanford Cardinal, 12-2 overall, 8-1 Pac-12, Conference Champions
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- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
Stanford fooled everyone in the first game of 2015 with an unorthodox loss at Northwestern, 16-6. But then they rattled off eight straight wins to not only rocket them to the top of the Pac-12 Conference, but also put them back in the national spotlight.
Stanford sustained only one other loss in 2015 with a 38-36 defeat to Oregon, yet because the Ducks stumbled a bit themselves last season, a final conference win against Cal (right before schedule closing victory against Notre Dame), Stanford clinched the North Division for the third time in four seasons.
Stanford then wiped the floor with USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game (just after the Trojans wiped the floor with the Bruins in the final game of the regular season), 41-22.
To top off their spectacular season, Stanford then obliterated Iowa in the Rose Bowl Game, 45-16. The Cardinal then landed the #3 ranking in the final AP poll, just outside of National Champion Alabama and runner-up Clemson.
Next: Key Players and Stats
3 Key Players
RB Christian McCaffrey (Jr.)
Though I hate to admit it from a UCLA fan point of view, McCaffrey should have won the Heisman Trophy last season. As a sophomore, McCaffrey broke Barry Sanders‘ single-season NCAA record, which is impressive in and of itself, but that is just a small piece of what he can do. Aside from averaging 144.2 rushing yards per game, he averaged 46.1 receiving yards per game and had a astounding 28.9 yards on kick returns. This kid does it all.
QB Keller Chryst (Jr.)
How do you replace 12-year starter Kevin Hogan? You don’t, but Stanford is going to make one hell of an effort with Chryst. The new Stanford QB is going to have to get acclimated real fast and hopefully the Cardinal’s first two games (they have a Week 2 bye) help him because he does not have that much experience beyond playing minimally in four games last year, only connecting on 5-of-9 passes. If he is going to be expected to keep Stanford in the Pac-12 race, he needs to get his chemistry with his team down ASAP.
DE Solomon Thomas (Jr)
Stanford is always brutish and always ready which is why returning DE Thomas will be a threat for the Cardinal this season. Though Stanford is looking to fill several spots on defense, Thomas will help that transition. Last year he recorded 37 total tackles, 10.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Stats
- Despite eight losses in a row, UCLA leads the series 45-39-3
- Largest Margin of Victories: UCLA 72-0 (1954), Stanford 82-0 (1925)
- Stanford’s current win streak of 8 games is the longest in the series.
Next: Offenses Vs. Defenses
UCLA Offense Vs. Stanford Defense
Stanford is one of the most disciplined teams in the nation which means UCLA (especially the offensive line) has to try and match that. Most importantly, the line has to limit penalties, especially the mental ones like false starts.
The Bruins have super sophomore QB Josh Rosen in their corner and he knows what is expected of them. After losing to Stanford in the manner that he did last season, he will be looking for some payback.
What will be interesting to see is how the Bruins incorporate their new power schemes. OC Kennedy Polamalu is adding some power to the offense, specifically to deal with teams like Stanford, but they also have spread elements to attack the Stanford D, which losses a several players. Though this is good news, do not ever count out Stanford. Shaw runs such a tight program that redshirt freshman can play like seasoned upperclassmen.
UCLA Defense Vs. Stanford Offense
Expect Stanford to run, run and run some more against the Bruin defense. Not only does UCLA have a lot to prove with heir run defense, but when you have the best player in college football as Stanford does, they will use him over and over. McCaffrey will be called upon to punish the Bruin’s front line and it could get messy.
Though Chryst has experience, he might think twice against throwing the ball against last season’s top Pac-12 pass defense which returns four players with multiple years of experience: Fabian Moreau, Marcus Rios, Jaleel Wadood and Randall Goforth.
Next: Final Analysis and Prediction
Fianl Analysis
If there was a time for UCLA to strike down the Mighty Cardinal, this would be it. UCLA cannot lose to Stanford forever and the Bruins look to have a very good team behind Rosen.
Chryst is going to have to be on-point in this game. He will only have two games to get acclimated to the Stanford’s offense (they open at home against Kansas State, have a bye in Week 2 and then face USC at home in Week 3). McCaffrey will still be a beast, but could be limited if UCLA manages to improve their run defense.
As for UCLA, they are plenty sick of losing to Stanford, so expect the Bruins to come into this game fists flying in front of the home crowd.
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
Next: The Betting Line for UCLA-Stanford is What?
Prediction
Stanford 28 – UCLA 30
Stanford looks to lock up a win, but new Bruin kicker J.J. Molson hits a field goal for the win in the dying seconds of the game.