Stanford wrapped up its 2025 football season with a tough loss to Notre Dame, closing the book on a 4-8 campaign. But while the record won’t turn heads, there’s a different story unfolding in Palo Alto-one that’s less about the final score and more about growth, resilience, and the foundation being laid under new head coach Tavita Pritchard.
After four straight 3-9 seasons, even a modest step forward feels like momentum. And as the Cardinal shift into what will be a crucial offseason, there are clear signs that this team is trending in the right direction.
One of the brightest of those signs? The emergence of linebacker Matt Rose, who was just named Stanford’s Defensive MVP for the 2025 season.
Rose’s journey to that honor wasn’t instant. It was a slow burn-the kind of development arc that reminds you not every standout player bursts onto the scene as a freshman.
A redshirt junior out of Brecksville, Ohio, Rose spent his first two years largely in the background. He redshirted in 2022, then contributed in a limited role on special teams and as a backup in 2023.
By 2024, he was seeing more snaps but still sat behind established starters Tristan Sinclair and Gaethan Bernadel.
But when both veterans graduated after last season, Rose was ready. And once he stepped into that starting role, he didn’t just fill the gap-he owned it.
Across 12 games, Rose racked up 106 total tackles, three sacks, three passes defended, and a forced fumble. That’s not just production-it’s impact.
He was the heartbeat of a defense that often kept Stanford competitive, especially at home. His best performance came in the rivalry win over Cal, where he posted 14 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery in a dominant 31-10 victory.
That game didn’t just help the Cardinal reclaim bragging rights-it was a showcase of what Rose brings to the table: toughness, instincts, and a nose for the football.
And it’s not just about one good season. With another year of eligibility left, Rose has a real shot to elevate his game even further-and with it, his stock as an NFL Draft prospect.
He’s already proven he can lead a defense. Now, the next step is doing it consistently while helping Stanford take the next leap as a program.
Coming out of Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, Rose was no stranger to success. A former three-star recruit, he was one of the top-ranked players in Ohio, earning First-Team All-Ohio Division II honors and leading his team to back-to-back league titles.
He left high school as the program’s all-time leader in solo tackles. Schools like Iowa State, Air Force, and Eastern Michigan came calling, but Rose chose Stanford-and now, The Farm is reaping the rewards of that decision.
Looking ahead, Stanford’s defense will continue to be the backbone of the team, even with an offensive-minded head coach now at the helm. If the Cardinal are going to make a serious push for bowl eligibility-or even challenge in the ACC-they’ll need that defense to carry the load. And at the center of it all will be Matt Rose, a player who’s gone from overlooked to indispensable.
This season may not have ended with a bowl bid, but it did end with something just as important: the rise of a leader. Rose’s breakout year gives Stanford a cornerstone to build around-and a reason for fans to believe that better days are coming.