College Football’s Top 50 Fanbases

23. Stanford

The good

Facing steeper academic challenges than most college football programs, Stanford has still found a way to win, and win consistently. The Cardinal are the model all high-academic institutions strive to follow.

The bad

The football program has had a remarkable run, but they’ve been nowhere near the most successful program on their own campus. A myriad of NCAA titles in soccer, swimming and tennis, among others, keep the expectations high on the football field and everywhere else.

The bottom line

Winning at Stanford isn’t easy. On top of the academic hurdles, the Cardinal will always be pitted against blue blood programs like UCLA and USC, each of which brings in blue-chip players in droves. It truly requires a cerebral coach who knows how to get the best out of his players.

Fortunately for Stanford, they’ve done well in the coaching department in recent history. Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw have made Stanford more than a consistent bowl team. The Cardinal are true contenders in the Pac-12 just about every season.