ESPN.com and USA Today posted early 2015 top-25 rankings today.
ESPN did not rank Stanford in its top-25. They have USC No. 4 and Oregon No. 5.
USA Today, on the other hand, is very bullish about Stanford's prospects. They have Stanford No. 4 in the nation.
Here's the USA Today blurb on the Cardinal:
Why No. 4? Because the Cardinal are supremely motivated by this season's slide out of the championship picture. That Stanford slid to eight wins will push this team during the offseason. At the same time, the Cardinal have the perfect cast for David Shaw's particular brand of football; the offense showed it can survive without wide receiver Ty Montgomery, who missed the last two games of this season, and the defense is superb along the back seven. Just three issues remain: one, if quarterback Kevin Hogan returns for his final season; two, if Stanford can replicate Montgomery's impact over an entire season; and three, if the staff finds quality pieces along the defensive line.
ESPN did not rank Stanford in its top-25. They have USC No. 4 and Oregon No. 5.
USA Today, on the other hand, is very bullish about Stanford's prospects. They have Stanford No. 4 in the nation.
Here's the USA Today blurb on the Cardinal:
Why No. 4? Because the Cardinal are supremely motivated by this season's slide out of the championship picture. That Stanford slid to eight wins will push this team during the offseason. At the same time, the Cardinal have the perfect cast for David Shaw's particular brand of football; the offense showed it can survive without wide receiver Ty Montgomery, who missed the last two games of this season, and the defense is superb along the back seven. Just three issues remain: one, if quarterback Kevin Hogan returns for his final season; two, if Stanford can replicate Montgomery's impact over an entire season; and three, if the staff finds quality pieces along the defensive line.
