2025-11-13 11:00
As I sit down to analyze Stanford's 2023 football schedule, I can't help but recall that poignant quote from a frustrated fan last season: "As much as I hate it, I think it's the same story every time. We just need a little bit of help." That sentiment perfectly captures the emotional rollercoaster we Cardinal supporters have been riding these past few seasons. Looking at this year's lineup, I'm genuinely excited about the possibilities, though I must admit there are some matchups that already have me nervous. The schedule kicks off on September 2nd against Hawaii at Stanford Stadium, which should give us a good early read on whether the offensive improvements we've been hearing about during spring practice are real or just more of the same old story.
What strikes me most about this year's calendar is the brutal stretch starting in late September. After what should be a manageable opening against Hawaii and USC (though facing the Trojans is never truly manageable), we dive straight into the deep end with back-to-back road games at Oregon and Washington. Having watched Stanford football for over fifteen years now, I can tell you that this particular sequence could make or break our entire season. The Oregon game on September 30th in Eugene particularly worries me - that stadium has been a house of horrors for us recently, with our last victory there coming way back in 2015. The numbers don't lie either - we've averaged just 17.3 points in our last four visits to Autzen Stadium, which simply won't cut it against an Oregon team that put up nearly 39 points per game last season.
The middle portion of the schedule brings some relief, with home games against Colorado and UCLA in October. I'm especially looking forward to the October 21st matchup against UCLA at Stanford Stadium - there's something special about those autumn games under the California sun. Last year's contest was a classic, decided by just three points, and I have a feeling this year's edition will be equally thrilling. What gives me hope is that we finally seem to be developing some offensive consistency. During spring practices, I noticed significant improvement in our red zone efficiency, which was frankly abysmal last season when we converted just 52% of red zone appearances into touchdowns. If we can push that number to around 65-70%, which I believe is realistic, we'll be in much better shape against the tougher opponents.
November brings the traditional rivalry games that always get my blood pumping, starting with Washington State on the 4th and then the Big Game against Cal on the 18th. Having attended every Big Game since 2010, I can confidently say this rivalry means more than just standings - it's about pride, tradition, and Bay Area bragging rights for the next 365 days. Last year's heartbreaking 27-20 loss still stings, particularly because we had opportunities to tie the game in the final minutes but couldn't convert. That's where that fan's quote about needing "a little bit of help" really resonates with me. Sometimes it feels like we're just one playmaker away from turning these close losses into victories.
The regular season wraps up with Notre Dame on November 25th, and while some might see this as a guaranteed loss given recent history, I'm actually optimistic. The Irish lost several key defensive players to the NFL, and we've historically played them tough at home. The last time they visited Stanford Stadium in 2021, we took them to overtime before falling 31-24. With what should be an improved offensive line and what I'm hearing about our new transfer quarterback's arm strength, this could be the year we finally break through against them.
Looking at the schedule as a whole, I count about seven winnable games if everything breaks right, though my more realistic expectation is somewhere between five and six victories. The key, in my view, will be how we perform during that brutal September-October road stretch and whether our offense can finally provide the consistent scoring that fan was pleading for. I've been following Stanford football long enough to know that potential doesn't always translate to wins, but something feels different about this team. The energy at spring practice was more focused, the play-calling more creative, and there seems to be genuine belief in the locker room. Will it be enough to get us back to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018? I'm cautiously optimistic, though I'll reserve final judgment until I see how we look against USC in that early season test. One thing's for certain - I'll be there every Saturday, cheering them on and hoping that this year, the story has a different ending.
