The #9 Stanford Cardinal put together a comeback win for the ages on Saturday, erasing a one-point deficit with a last-second field goal to beat the #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 38-36. Stanford QB Kevin Hogan's 27-yard strike to WR Devon Cajuste was the biggest play on a game-winning drive that lasted just over a minutes. With all this in mind, here are our notes, quotes and observations from the Cardinal's one-point win.
Notes:
There were six lead changes in the game, with the most important of all being the game-cinching kick for Conrad Ukropina with time expiring. Neither team could maintain momentum all game long.
Notre Dame's last-second loss wasted another breakout performance by QB DeShone Kizer. Kizer finished with 362 all-purpose yards (234 passing, 128 rushing) and two touchdowns. He led Notre Dame on a 15-play, 88-yard TD drive which appeared to salt away the game at 36-35 with just over a minute left.
Stanford QB Kevin Hogan's final regular season game with the Cardinal will go down as one of his best. Hogan finished 17/21 for 269 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions.
RB Josh Adams was a revelation again subbing in for injured starter CJ Prosise, posting 168 yards and a touchdown on just 18 carries. Notre Dame outgained Stanford 299-153 on the ground.
Quotes:
"Number 1 win of all time." -- Kevin Hogan on tonight's win.
"Couldn't be more proud of the way our kids competed." -- Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly
"We represent Stanford. We're not carrying anybody." -- Stanford HC Kevin Hogan on Cardinal's position as Pac-12's only playoff hope
"The reality is we're two plays away from being undefeated and being the No. 1 team in the country." -- Brian Kelly
Observations:
The two-loss Stanford Cardinal are fringe CFP contenders heading into next week's Pac-12 title game against USC. #1 Clemson and #2 Alabama are likely conference title game wins away from securing playoff berths. Big 12 champion #3 Oklahoma doesn't look to be moving down after a 58-23 annihilation of #11 Oklahoma State. #4 Iowa and #5 Michigan State will square off for the Big Ten crown next week, and it's almost guaranteed that the winner will get a CFP slot. For Stanford to make it, they'll likely need losses by both Clemson and Alabama, considering that the defending champion #8 Ohio State Buckeyes are sitting with just one loss after thrashing #10 Michigan 42-13 on Saturday.
Notre Dame has survived a host of season-ending injuries this season, falling just short of their CFP goal with their second loss of the season. However, the Irish lost their two games to #1 Clemson and #9 Stanford by a total of just three points. Both of those games were prime-time showdowns on the road. With just a little more luck, Notre Dame would be pacing the field as a CFP favorite. Now, they're likely to be headed to a non-CFP New Year's Six bowl as an at-large entrant.
Back to the Stanford Cardinal Newsfeed