Pac-12 North: Separating the contenders from the pretenders

Sep 19, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan (8) throws a pass against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Stanford Cardinal

This is a perplexing team, to say the least. They start off 2015 by waltzing into Northwestern and laying an egg. The Cardinal were outplayed in that game, and struggled badly on offense. Head coach David Shaw was up to his old tricks again, punting on 4th and 5 from the Northwestern 37 yard line while losing 10-3 in the second half. Any team punting from the 37 yard line would be questioned, but when it is a team with a bruising offensive line, a senior quarterback, and a great defense? That is indefensible.

Of course, his team rallies and goes into Los Angeles and pummel the USC Trojans, 41-31 in an offensive explosion that saw them rack up 474 total yards and zero punts To put things in perspective, against Northwestern and a putrid UCF team, Stanford scored a combined 37 points, four less than they put up against the Trojans.

One can only guess as to where this team goes from here, as they could run the table and end up in the national championship game, or they could lose at home to Oregon State next week. Neither would surprise anyone at this point.

Verdict: Contender

Next: Oregon Ducks