Know Your Enemy: Can Cal Slow Down Stanford Breakout RB Christian McCaffrey?
The Golden Bears are already bowl-eligible, but the four-game losing streak has kept Cal from competing for the Pac-12 Championship. The same cannot be said about Cal's next opponent, Stanford, who are a win away from the Pac-12 North title as well as a playoff spot. With a win, the Bears can spoil their Bay Area-rivals' postseason hopes and regain bragging rights the Cardinal have held for the last five years. A win is a doable, yet daunting task; star running back Christian McCaffrey brings a challenge to Cal's defense unlike any other so far this season.
Series History: Stanford leads 48-40-6
First played in 1918, the rivalry between Cal and Stanford has been played annually with the brief exception of 1943-1945 due to World War II. Wins and losses have tended to come in streaks for both schools in the series, and right now Stanford is enjoying a five-game winning streak in the series. Stanford won last season's meeting, 38-17. The last time Cal won at Stanford was also the last time it celebrated a win in the series, 2009.
Stanford Head Coach: David Shaw (5th year, 50-14)
When Stanford lost head coach Jim Harbaugh to the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, they made the decision to stay in house to hire their next head coach. David Shaw, who had been Harbaugh's offensive coordinator, was named the head coach of the Cardinal and he has done nothing to allow the program to take a step back. In fact, Stanford may have taken a step forward under Shaw. Stanford has played in two Rose Bowls, winning one, since Shaw was named the head coach.
Stanford At a Glance
Stanford's 2015 season started with a bump in the road with a season-opening loss on the road against Northwestern. The 16-6 defeat to the Wildcats suggested Stanford was in line for a down season, but the Cardinal have turned things up a couple of notches since starting Pac-12 play. Stanford topped USC 41-31 and Arizona 55-17 before blowing away UCLA, 56-35. Stanford put together eight straight wins, including seven in conference play to establish itself as a legitimate playoff contender, if not just the Pac-12 favorite. That outlook took a shiner last week with a home loss to Oregon, but Stanford still remains in position to play for, and win, the Pac-12 championship. It can clinch the division with a win over Cal.
Kevin Hogan has been a steady performer at quarterback for Stanford, but the emergence of young running back Christian McCaffrey has been the big development for the program this season. McCaffrey, a sophomore and son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, leads the Cardinal with 1,354 rushing yards and he has accounted for 10 offensive touchdowns and can provide a spark on special teams when called upon to return a kick or punt.
Outlook
Cal's offense found its touch last week in a win over Oregon State, which clinched bowl eligibility for the Golden Bears. Jared Goff and the Cal offense will face its stiffest challenge of the season against Stanford. Stanford leads the Pac-12 in total defense, allowing just 348.4 yards per game. Stanford has allowed a Pac-12 best 2,141 yards allowed and opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 119.43, third lowest in the Pac-12. If Cal can move the football against Stanford, they will have to capitalize on any red zone opportunities. Stanford's usually-reliable defense has given up red zone scores 90.63 percent of the time, but just half of the opponent's red zone trips have resulted in touchdowns. Only Washington has a better defensive red zone touchdown percentage. Cal leads the Pac-12 in red zone touchdown percentage (68.63 percent), so something will have to give.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
