Stanford’s first week under Tavita Pritchard brought a win, but Friday night will tell the real story.
After opening with a 37-27 comeback against Hawaii, the Cardinal steps straight into the deep end against No. 7 Miami at Stanford Stadium. Pritchard has said the biggest jump a team makes often comes between its first and second games, and Stanford is about to find out how much of that theory holds up.
The challenge is a serious one. Miami is coming in for its first game since reaching last season’s CFP National Championship, where it fell 27-21 to Indiana.
It also brings a new quarterback in Duke transfer Darian Mensah, who led the ACC in passing yards and passing touchdowns last season with 3,973 yards, 34 touchdowns and six interceptions. Pritchard didn’t hide the respect.
“He’s a talented player,” Pritchard said. “We know that he’s a guy that we’re going to have to affect him in the pocket. We’re absolutely going to have to do a great job of staying in our rush lanes and covering some really talented skilled players on that side of the ball.”
Miami’s backfield and receiving corps are just as threatening. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. is back after rushing for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and sophomore receiver Malachi Toney is one of the ACC’s most dangerous big-play threats.
Stanford, meanwhile, has some things to clean up after nearly letting Hawaii slip away. The Cardinal led 23-7 going into the fourth quarter before the Rainbow Warriors ripped off three touchdowns to grab a 27-23 lead. Pritchard pointed to issues on both sides of the ball: the offense couldn’t keep drives alive, and the defense gave Hawaii extra chances with penalties.
The late response saved Stanford. Davis Warren, making his first start, sparked the comeback and was the only FBS quarterback in Week 0 to throw for 300 yards. He then capped the night by leading a quick touchdown drive, and linebacker Tevarua Tafiti sealed it with a 31-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Warren finished 22 of 34 for 310 yards and a touchdown without a turnover. On the winning drive, he was perfect, hitting all five passes for 58 yards.
“I thought he did a nice job just overall operating the offense,” Pritchard said. “For a Game 1, we didn’t play it perfectly, but relatively clean in terms of just the operation of it - getting to the line of scrimmage, getting the play called and allowing us to execute.”
Pritchard also praised Warren’s processing.
“I thought Davis was efficient throughout the day,” Pritchard said. “I thought he did a nice job with his eyes and making his way through progressions, finding the open guy.”
Still, the quarterback’s work might need even more support this week. Stanford is dealing with a short turnaround and several injury concerns, including sophomore outside linebacker Gabe Kaminski, who had 1.5 sacks against Hawaii and is listed as doubtful, and edge Ernest Cooper, who is questionable.
The biggest blow may be up front. Starting center Aiden Kilstrom will not play after suffering what looked like a serious leg injury in the third quarter. After he left, running back Micah Ford had only 14 of his 99 rushing yards in the second half as Stanford’s offense stalled.
Now the Cardinal gets the kind of test that can expose every crack. Stanford’s last win over a ranked opponent came against No.
3 Oregon in overtime in 2021, and the program’s most recent matchup with Miami ended in a 42-7 loss last October when the Hurricanes were ranked No. 9.
Friday night offers a fresh look, a bigger stage, and a much harder exam for Pritchard’s team.
In Other News...
Davis Warren Just Became Stanfords Biggest Hope Against No. 7 Miami
Stanford heads into Friday night with Davis Warren at the center of whatever chance the Cardinal have against No. 7 Miami. The Michigan transfer gave the offense a steady look in the season opener, and now he draws the kind of stage that tells you a lot about a quarterback early in a new run. With kickoff set for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, this becomes a measuring-stick game for Stanford as much as it does a showcase for Warren.
Miami has already spent part of the week talking up the challenge he presents, which is usually the first sign a defense respects what it sees on film. The Hurricanes know they will have to disrupt his rhythm and prevent him from settling into the kind of comfort that lets a quarterback steer an offense with confidence. For Stanford, the hope is obvious: if Warren keeps playing like a veteran who belongs in these moments, the Cardinal can make this one more interesting than the matchup suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Stanford Faces An Early Reality Check Against Miamis Playoff Push
Miamis first step toward another playoff chase comes on the road Friday night against Stanford, a matchup that should offer an early look at how well the Hurricanes have reloaded. The opener is set for 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN, and Miami brings back key pieces such as running back Mark Fletcher Jr. while turning to Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah to replace Carson Beck. The defense also looks familiar in some spots, with returning starters and new transfers expected to shape the unit from the start.
Stanford, meanwhile, is coming off a season-opening win and will try to make the Hurricanes prove their credentials in a tougher setting. The Cardinal have already shown enough early fight to avoid being treated like a mere tune-up, but this is the kind of September test that can expose where a team really stands after one week. For Miami, the trip is about sharpening the playoff push; for Stanford, it is an opportunity to find out how much margin it has against a roster built to contend. [Read more 🡒]