FWAA Names Stanford Cardinal Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Team of The Week

The Stanford Cardinal was honored as the Football Writers Association of America Team of the Week for Sept. 17, the organization announced Monday. Stanford used a dominating defensive effort to stifle the second ranked USC Trojans, holding the visitors scoreless throughout the second half in a 21-14 decision. Preseason Heisman Trophy favorite Matt Barkley was forced into two interceptions and failed to complete at least 50 percent of his passes for the first time since 2010.

Stanford improved to 3-0, and is 1-0 in the Pacific 12 Conference. The Cardinal is now 17-2 against the conference since the start of 2010, and has not lost to a league foe aside from Oregon since a 34-28 decision against Cal in November 2009.

The FWAA panelists selecetd Stanford over nominees Notre Dame and Western Kentucky. The Fighting Irish extended its record to 3-0 with its own defensively dominant performance against rival Michigan State. Notre Dame won its second straight over Sparty, 20-3.

WKU tripped up in-state opponent Kentucky, making the Wildcats the Sun Belt’s second SEC victim of 2012. Willie Taggart’s Hilltoppers improved to 2-1 with the 32-31 overtime win.