While the balance of power in the Pac-12 North definitely holds firm in the Pacific Northwest, Stanford has a great opportunity to become a dark-horse for the division in 2019. They will open somewhere in the high teens of the AP Top 25 after a close call against Pitt in the Sun Bowl, as they try to get back to double-digit wins for the sixth time in eight seasons under David Shaw.
Now that Bryce Love is off to the NFL, the offense will focus even more heavily on the arm of quarterback K.J. Costello. Last season Costello completed more than 65 percent of his passes, throwing for over 3,500 yards with 29 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. Cameron Scarlett will finally get his chance to start as a redshirt senior, though he sat out the spring with an injury.
Where Stanford will make its bones is on defense. The Cardinal might boast one of the top dozen secondaries in the country, with cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and Obi Eboh among the best at their position. They will buttress a unit that will need to adjust to the loss of several players, including third-round NFL Draft pick Bobby Okereke at linebacker.
A visit from Northwestern kicks off a September that includes trips to USC and UCF before taking on the Oregon schools at the end of the month. Stanford has the advantage of playing only two road games after September, at Colorado and at Washington State on the second and third Saturdays of November.