Stanford Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2018

It’s going to be an odd sight to see UCLA without Josh Rosen under center, but the junior quarterback declared for the 2018 NFL Draft. It’ll also be different seeing the Bruins without Jim Mora roaming the sidelines. Devon Modster will replace Rosen, and he’s a decent enough quarterback to ease the loss and Chip Kelly has been named new head coach.

Kelly will get the Bruins back to Pac-12 contention before we know it, but it’s not going to happen in year one. The Bruins are going to be hovering around .500, or slightly better, throughout the 2018 season.

KJ Costello will out-duel Modster in the season finale and that’ll be huge for the Cardinal heading into bowl season and looking ahead to 2019 with one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-12. Costello will end the season as one of the most underrated quarterbacks in all of college football, approaching 3,000 yards.

Next: Way-too-early college football top 25 rankings for 2018

Bryce Love, since we would all be wondering at this point, will sew up the Heisman Trophy with another 150-plus yard performance. It’ll be a back-and-forth game, but ultimately Stanford will steal a big road win on a last-second field goal.

Final Score: Stanford 31, UCLA 28 (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12)