The Stanford Cardinal are in a prime position as they enter the Pac-12 championship game on Friday night.
The team will be matched up against the UCLA Bruins, a team they beat just 35-17 just last Sunday, and have reeled off six wins in a row to finish the regular season.
The Cardinal celebrated senior day on the final home game of the regular season earlier this month against Oregon State, but will get another chance to play in front of the home fans on Friday night they will host the Pac-12 title game at home at Stanford Stadium.
"We're going to have to change the date of our last walk T-shirt," fifth-year linebacker Chase Thomas said Sunday to the Associated Press. "Put some tape over it or something."
Many people in the media and in college football expected the Pac-12 championship to be between highly touted USC and Oregon. Things haven't quote turned out that way, with USC going 7-5 after starting the season at No. 1 and Oregon the odd team out in the conference after losing to Stanford 17-14 in overtime on Nov. 17.
"I remember when nobody was giving us a look down at the Pac-12 media day," Thomas said. "I told them, 'It was the same thing when Toby (Gerhart) left. It was the same thing when (Jim) Harbaugh left. It was the same thing when Andrew left.' I guess people out there just don't get it."
Stanford has been one of the most impressive teams in college football this season, despite losing quarterback Andrew Luck to the NFL last season. The team is ranked 11th in points against, allowing just 16.9 per game and have one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, gaining nearly 400 yards per game.
"They don't understand what type of guys we have on this team. The kind of coaches we have. We're not going away. We're not a one-person team," Thomas added. "We never have been. So people can think what they want. We know this team is going to be around for a while."
The Cardinal clinched the North division title last Saturday against UCLA and has won three straight games against ranked opponents. The team opened with three straight wins before losing 17-13 to Washington.
Stanford won the next game 54-48 against Arizona in overtime, but lost the following week to Notre Dame 20-13 on a controversial call against running back Stepfan Taylor in overtime. Since the loss, Stanford has won six-straight games and has allowed more than 20 points just once.
Freshman quarterback Kevin Hogan has been excellent for Stanford since taking over for Josh Nunes, who was ineffective against Notre Dame after starting off the season well. Hogan has won four-straight games since taking over the starting job and has passed for 818 yards and eight touchdowns with only three interceptions.
Heisman candidate Stepfan Taylor has put up great numbers, rushing for 1,364 yards and 11 touchdowns. Against UCLA last Saturday, Taylor rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns and has gained at least 100 yards in the past three games. This season Taylor has been held under 100 yards just four times.
Tight end Zach Ertz has provided a comfortable target for Hogan, catching 63 balls for 818 yards and six touchdowns this season. He made 11 receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown in the win against Oregon two weeks ago and has made at least two receptions in each game apart from one this season.
According to the Associated Press, "Stanford has won 10 games for the third straight season or the first time in school history."
"We kind of did the senior day last time we were in the stadium, not knowing when those guys were going to be back, really thinking the next time they would be back in there would be graduation," head coach David Shaw said. "Now getting one more game is special for those guys. They're real excited about it. I think you get an idea of what our team is like because our younger guys are excited for our seniors. It's not just that they're excited to be in the game. They're excited that the seniors get to come in the stadium one more time. I think that shows how tight of a team we are."
UCLA will look to rebound on Friday night after losing to Stanford at home last Saturday.
"I cannot recall ever being in this situation before," UCLA coach Jim Mora said to the Associated Press. "I don't know that it benefits either team, or is hard on any team. It just comes down to going out on Friday night and executing. Any familiarity we have with them, they'll have with us. It just kind of negates each other."
The Bruins have been one of the most consistent and surprising teams in college football this season. After going 6-8 in the final year under coach Rick Neuheisel, UCLA improved to 9-3 under Mora in his first season, including a 6-3 Pac-12 record.
UCLA is ranked 55th in the nation in points allowed and has been stellar on offense, ranking 25th in points scored. The team is gaining nearly 200 yards per game on the ground and is averaging 279 through the air.
Quarterback Brett Hundley has been one of the biggest surprises for the Bruins, passing for 3,234 yards and 26 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. The freshman is the second-leading rusher on the team with 282 yards and has scored eight touchdowns.
Against then-No. 18 USC on Nov. 17, Hundley passed for 234 yards and a touchdown and rushed for two more scores in the 38-28 upset victory. Last week in the loss against Stanford, Hundley passed for only 71 yards and one touchdown.
"Every week is going to be different. Not every week is going be perfect," Hundley said. "We've just got to come out, and we're blessed with another opportunity to play another game for the Pac-12 championship, and we've just got to have fun and play our game."
The Bruins opened the year with three-straight wins before falling 27-20 to Oregon State. The team rebounded with a 42-14 win over Colorado, but lost the following week to California 43-17. The Bruins then went on a roll, winning five-straight games, including a 66-10 blow out against then- No. 22 ranked Arizona.
According to the Associated Press, UCLA will play in its first Rose Bowl since 1999 with a win over Stanford.
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