October 24, 2015; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) passes the football against Washington Huskies linebacker Cory Littleton (42) during the third quarter at Stanford Stadium. The Cardinal defeated the Huskies 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
STANFORD, Calif. — They’re starting to think something remarkable is happening at Stanford, where the Cardinal is riding a six-game winning streak and rolling over the opposition.
Stanford climbed to No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 following a 31-14 victory over Washington. The Cardinal vaulted over previously unbeaten Utah, which dropped from No. 3 to No. 13 after suffering a humbling loss to USC.
Stanford is now 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the Pac-12 Conference. A win this week over Washington State (5-2, 3-1) would put the Cardinal in a commanding position in the Pac-12’s North Division standings.
“What we have here is very special right now,” senior quarterback Kevin Hogan said. “We’re all in it together, playing for each other. We don’t care who gets the credit.”
There’s plenty of credit to go around. Hogan is playing up to his potential, sophomore sensation Christian McCaffrey has emerged as a breakout star and the offensive line is establishing itself as one of the best in the nation. The Cardinal has scored at least 31 points in each of its past six games and is averaging 42.7 points per game over that span.
Hogan has been one of the biggest keys to Stanford’s success. During the winning streak, he has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,421 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.
“He’s been as efficient as any quarterback in college football the last month and a half,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
There’s no overstating the contributions of McCaffrey, who leads the nation in all-purpose yards. The 6-foot, 201-pound running back has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the past five games. He has also been a big factor in the passing and kick return games.
“He can do it all,” Hogan said.
Then there’s the offensive line, led by senior guard Joshua Garnett and senior tackle Kyle Murphy. The line didn’t perform well in a season-opening loss to Northwestern, but chemistry, cohesion and execution has improved tremendously since then.
“Garnett and Murphy are playing at a high level,” Shaw said. “Graham Shuler, over the last month of the season, is playing the best football of his career along with Johnny Caspers. They are starting to become what we anticipated them becoming when we recruited this group.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Kevin Hogan lit up Washington State’s defense when they met last season at Stanford Stadium, completing 23-of-35 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-17 victory. He might not put up those kinds of numbers this weekend in Pullman, Wash., against a Washington State defense that ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in pass defense and 11th against the run, but his recent play suggests he will be efficient and effective.
–RB Christian McCaffrey is on a roll and could have another big game against a Washington State defense that has struggled against the run. McCaffrey has rushed for more than 100 yards in five consecutive games and set a single-game school record with 243 yards against UCLA. He should be a prominent part of Stanford’s game plan against Washington State’s porous run defense.
–RB Remound Wright has scored at least one rushing touchdown in four of the last five games, including one in the win over Washington. Wright had three touchdown runs against USC, two against Oregon State and two against Arizona. He also had a touchdown reception in the win over Arizona.
–CB Ronnie Harris has established himself as one of the best cover corners in the Pac-12. The fifth-year senior leads the conference with nine pass breakups this season. He will undoubtedly play an important role against Washington State, which features one of the nation’s most prolific passing games. He could see time against Washington State WRs Gabe Marks, Dom Williams and River Cracraft, all of whom rank among the top five in the Pac-12 in receptions per game.
SERIES HISTORY: Stanford leads Washington State, 39-25-1. The Cardinal has won seven in a row in the series, including a 34-17 victory last season at Stanford Stadium.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I’m at the point where I don’t know what else to say other than, ‘Watch him.’ The little guy never gets tired. He’s just special.” — Stanford coach David Shaw, on sophomore running back Christian McCaffrey.
