Much of Stanford’s recent success is attributable to a defense that has consistently been one of the best in the conference. There are lots of complex reasons for that, but the simplest, and probably most accurate, explanation is that defensive coordinator Lance Anderson is secretly a wizard.
They say defense wins championships. Little bears that out more clearly than the recent history of Stanford football. Stanford had successful seasons in 2010 and 2011 with Andrew Luck at the helm, largely because the offense was unstoppable. But in both of those years the Stanford defense was exposed by talented offensive teams: Oregon crushed Stanford twice, and Stanford lost the 2012 Fiesta Bowl (following the 2011 season) in a shootout with Oklahoma State.