SMQ: 5 teams that could win a first national championship soon
By Zach Bigalke
Topping on the list of the top five programs positioned to break through as national champions is the Cardinal. Stanford has an interesting pedigree as a place where Heisman runner-up finishes are a historical regularity. They have also grown into a recent powerhouse that regularly contends for Pac-12 titles and top-five finishes in the polls.
Jim Harbaugh gained the reputation as the turnaround specialist that put Stanford back on the right track toward prominence in the late 2000s. When Harbaugh left for the NFL, however, things progressed seamlessly forward under offensive coordinator-turned-head coach David Shaw. Andrew Luck helped ease the transition as he bridged the Harbaugh and Shaw eras. But the Cardinal remained relevant after Luck moved on to the NFL.
Stanford went to an Orange Bowl under Harbaugh along with three Rose Bowls and a Fiesta Bowl on Shaw’s watch. With five major bowl appearances in eight years, the Cardinal have evolved into one of the most consistent powers in the Pac-12 over the past decade.
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Bryce Love will be back in 2018 for another shot at the Heisman Trophy. So too will quarterback KJ Costello. The Cardinal are loaded heading into the new season as they look to defend their Pac-12 North title and position themselves for a shot at even bigger prizes.