Stanford’s season opener came with a little extra hardware.
Following its thrilling win to start the 2026 campaign, the Cardinal picked up two ACC weekly honors: Micah Ford was named ACC Running Back of the Week, and Atticus Joseph was selected as ACC Rookie of the Week.
Ford did the heavy lifting out of the backfield, piling up 25 carries for 99 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He broke loose for 85 of those yards in the first half and was the only running back in FBS to score multiple rushing touchdowns in Week 0.
The performance also put him in rare Stanford company, as he became the first Cardinal back since Bryce Love in 2017 to post at least 90 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a game. It’s the second ACC Running Back of the Week award of Ford’s career; he also won it last season.
Joseph made his collegiate debut against Hawai'i and made it count. One of three Stanford wideouts to appear in their first college game, he had the strongest showing of the group, finishing with four catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.
The last Stanford player to debut with at least 50 receiving yards and a score was Christian McCaffrey in 2014. PFF also graded Joseph as the fourth-best receiver in FBS for Week 0.
He became the first Cardinal to win ACC Rookie of the Week since Ford did it in 2024.
Stanford stays home for its second game of the season, hosting Miami at 6 p.m. PT on Friday night. Multiplatinum recording artist E-40 will perform a special halftime show.
In Other News...
Stanford Opens Against A Miami Question That Still Isn't Resolved
Miamis trip to California for its season opener against Stanford comes with the usual cross-country adjustment, and Mario Cristobal spent time this week addressing how his team is handling the travel and the late kickoff. It will be just the Hurricanes third regular-season game on the West Coast since 2000, so the logistics matter, and Cristobal said fall camp wrapped up with the roster in good health as the team settles in for the start of the season.
One issue still hanging over the opener is running back Jordan Lyles status. Cristobal did not offer an update on Lyles availability after his recent arrest, leaving the situation very much unresolved as Miami gets ready to take the field in California. For a season opener that already brings a unique road test, the uncertainty around one of the Hurricanes skill players only adds another layer to watch. [Read more 🡒]