Stanford aims to recover from three consecutive seasons with nine losses as they make their debut in the ACC

After three consecutive seasons of nine losses, Stanford faces more challenges in coach Troy Taylor’s second year than simply adapting to new opponents and increased travel in the ACC.

The Cardinal aim to return to the elite status they enjoyed under Jim Harbaugh and David Shaw, when they were a dominant force on the West Coast.

“While the new opponents and the travel are factors, they’re secondary to our focus on process and preparation,” Taylor said. “It’s about our daily routine and how we live it. Sure, traveling across the country a few times will be a challenge, but our players will adjust. We’ve faced tougher obstacles before.”

In recent years, Stanford has struggled, finishing with a 3-9 record each season.

Troy Taylor on the sidelines during a game

Only UMass and Akron have recorded more losses than Stanford’s 27 over the same period among all FBS teams.

This stark decline contrasts sharply with Stanford's past, when the program was synonymous with “intellectual brutality.” During a 10-year stretch from 2009 to 2018, the Cardinal never won fewer than eight games in a season and ranked sixth in FBS wins.

Taylor is optimistic that having players who are now familiar with his system and increased depth—after playing with just 75 scholarship players in 2023—will lead to significant improvements this season.

“The familiarity, comfort level, and confidence are crucial,” Taylor said. “When you’re initially adjusting, you’re figuring out what you want and how to achieve it. Now, the players have a much better grasp of what’s required.”