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2015 Stanford Cardinal football team

American college football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2015 Stanford Cardinal football team represented Stanford University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cardinal were led by fifth-year head coach David Shaw. They played their home games at Stanford Stadium and were members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.

ConferencePac-12 Conference
DivisionNorth Division
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
Quick facts Stanford Cardinal football, Pac-12 championPac-12 North Division championRose Bowl champion ...
2015 Stanford Cardinal football
Pac-12 champion
Pac-12 North Division champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 45–16 vs. Iowa
ConferencePac-12 Conference
DivisionNorth Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
Record12–2 (8–1 Pac-12)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Bloomgren (3rd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorLance Anderson (2nd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumStanford Stadium
Seasons
← 2014
2016 →
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More information Conf., Overall ...
2015 Pac-12 Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
North Division
No. 3 Stanford xy$ 8–1  12–2 
No. 19 Oregon 7–2  9–4 
Washington State 6–3  9–4 
California 4–5  8–5 
Washington 4–5  7–6 
Oregon State 0–9  2–10 
South Division
USC xy 6–3  8–6 
No. 17 Utah x 6–3  10–3 
UCLA 5–4  8–5 
Arizona State 4–5  6–7 
Arizona 3–6  7–6 
Colorado 1–8  4–9 
Championship: Stanford 41, USC 22
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll
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In 2015, the Cardinal were the champions of the Pac-12. After finishing in first place in the North Division, they beat USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game by a score of 41–22.[1] They defeated Iowa 45–16 in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2016.

The Cardinal finished the season ranked No. 3 in the final Coaches Poll, their highest final ranking in the history of that poll. They were similarly ranked No. 3 in the final AP Poll, their highest final ranking in 75 years, following the 1940 national championship season.

Personnel

Coaching staff

More information Name, Position ...
NamePositionStanford yearsAlma mater
David ShawHead coach9thStanford (1994)
Lance AndersonDefensive coordinator / outside linebackers coach9thIdaho State (1996)
Mike BloomgrenAssociate head coach / offensive coordinator5thFlorida State (1999)
Pete AlamarSpecial teams coordinator4thCal Lutheran (1983)
Duane AkinaDefensive backs coach2ndWashington (1979)
Peter HansenInside linebackers coach2ndArizona (2001)
Tavita PritchardQuarterbacks coach / wide receivers coach3rdStanford (2009)
Randy HartDefensive linemen coach6thOhio State (1970)
Eric SandersDefensive assistant1stUC Davis (2005)
Lance TaylorRunning backs coach2ndAlabama (2003)
Morgan TurnerTight ends coach3rdIllinois (2009)
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Roster

2015 Stanford Cardinal roster

Quarterbacks

Running backs

  •  5 Christian McCaffrey – sophomore (6'0, 197)
  • 15 Reagan Williams Freshman (6'3, 218)
  • 19 Ryan Gaertner Junior (5'10, 215)
  • 20 Bryce Love Freshman (5'10, 184)
  • 22 Remound Wright – Redshirt senior (5'9, 198)
  • 25 Cameron Scarlett Freshman (6'1, 220)
  • 26 Barry J. Sanders – Redshirt junior (5'10, 191)
  • 35 Daniel Marx – sophomore (6'2, 247)
  • 42 Pat McFadden – junior (5'10, 195)

Wide receivers

  •  2 Trenton Irwin – freshman (6’2, 199)
  •  3 Michael Rector – Redshirt junior 6'1 190)
  •  4 Jay Tyler – freshman (5'8, 167)
  •  5 Kodi Whitfield – senior (6'2, 197)
  •  6 Francis Owusu – junior (6'3, 193)
  •  6 Taijuan Thomas – junior (5'10, 185)
  • 11 Dontonio Jordan – Redshirt junior (5'11, 188)
  • 13 Rollins Stallworth – Redshirt senior (6'4, 196)
  • 19 J. J. Arcega-Whiteside – freshman (6'3, 207)
  • 21 Isaiah Brandt-Sims – sophomore (5'11, 175)
  • 41 Addison Johnson – sophomore (5'9, 175)
  • 46 Sidhart Krishnamurthi – freshman (5'11, 175)
  • 81 Conner Crane – Redshirt junior (6'4, 195)
  • 85 Treyvion Foster – junior (6'1, 213)
  • 89 Devon Cajuste – Redshirt senior (6'4, 232)

Offensive guards/offensive tackles

  • 51 Joshua Garnett – senior (6'5, 317) OG
  • 54 Nick Wilson – freshman (6'3, 268) OG
  • 57 Johnny Caspers – Redshirt junior (6'4, 292) OG
  • 60 Lucas Hinds – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 290) OG
  • 62 Austin Maihen – freshman – (6'5, 280) OG
  • 64 David Bright – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 290) OG/OT
  • 66 Nick Davidson – Redshirt junior (6'7, 283) OT
  • 71 Brandon Fanaika – sophomore (6'3, 321) OG
  • 74 Brendon Austin – Redshirt senior (6'6, 304) OG
  • 75 A. T. Hall – sophomore (6'5, 278) OT
  • 76 Jack Dreyer – freshman (6'8, 286) OT
  • 77 Casey Tucker – sophomore (6'6, 305) OT
  • 78 Kyle Murphy – senior (6'7, 272) OT
  

Tight ends

  •  9 Dalton Schultz – sophomore (6'6, 239)
  • 18 Austin Hooper – Redshirt sophomore (6'4, 225)
  • 80 Eric Cotton – Redshirt sophomore (6'6, 235)
  • 82 Chris Harrell – senior (6'4, 236)
  • 87 Ben Snyder – freshman (6'4, 240)
  • 88 Greg Taboada – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 235)
  • 99 Luke Kaumatule – senior (6'7, 260)

Centers

  • 52 Graham Shuler – Redshirt junior (6'4, 277)
  • 64 Brian Chaffin – freshman (6'2, 278)
  • 73 Jesse Burkett – Redshirt freshman (6'4, 288)

Defensive tackles

  • 58 David Parry – Redshirt senior
  • 79 Alex Yazdi – Redshirt junior
  • 95 Lance Callihan – Redshirt junior

Defensive ends

  •  7 Aziz Shittu – senior (6'3, 275)
  • 17 Brennan Scarlett – Redshirt senior (6'4, 265)
  • 48 Kevin Anderson – Redshirt senior (6'4, 245)
  • 55 Nate Lohn – Redshirt junior (6'3, 274)
  • 56 Wesley Annan – freshman (6'4, 285)
  • 66 Harrison Phillips – sophomore (6'4, 255)
  • 75 Jordan Watkins – Redshirt junior (6'5, 271)
  • 90 Solomon Thomas – sophomore (6'3, 256)
  • 97 Dylan Jackson – Freshman (6'6, 248)

Linebackers

  •  3 Noor Davis – Redshirt junior (6'4, 227) ILB
  •  4 Blake Martinez – senior (6'2, 238) ILB
  • 15 Jordan Perez – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 207) ILB
  • 20 Bobby Okereke – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 217) ILB
  • 27 Sean Barton – freshman (6'3, 212) ILB
  • 31 Mustafa Branch – freshman (5'11, 218) ILB
  • 32 Joey Alfieri – Redshirt freshman (6'3, 228) OLB
  • 33 Mike Tyler – Redshirt sophomore (6'5, 225) OLB
  • 34 Peter Kalambayi – Redshirt sophomore (6'3, 240) OLB
  • 43 Ryan Beecher– freshman (6'1, 230) ILB
  • 44 Kevin Palma – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 240) ILB
  • 47 Sam Yules – Redshirt junior (6'2, 221) ILB
  • 49 Lewis Burik– freshman (5'10, 216) ILB
  • 50 Sam Shober– Redshirt junior (6'3, 223) OLB
  • 52 Casey Toohill – freshman (6'4, 230) OLB
  • 53 Torsten Rotto – Redshirt senior (6'2, 240) OLB
  • 59 Craig Jones – Redshirt junior (6'0, 215) ILB
  • 86 Lane Veach – Redshirt freshman (6'6, 233) OLB
  

Defensive backs

  •  8 Frank Buncom – freshman (6'2, 192) CB
  • 11 Terrence Alexander – sophomore (5'10, 178) CB
  • 13 Alijah Holder – Redshirt freshman (6'2, 174) CB
  • 21 Ronnie Harris – Redshirt senior (5'10, 170) CB
  • 23 Alameen Murphy – Redshirt freshman (5'11, 185) CB
  • 24 Quenton Meeks – freshman (6'2, 195) CB
  • 38 Ra'Chard Pippens – Redshirt senior (6'2, 198) CB

Safeties

  •  2 Brandon Simmons – Redshirt freshman (6'0, 182) FS
  •  9 Ben Edwards – freshman (6'0, 191) FS
  • 22 Justin Reid – junior (6'1, 195) SS
  • 28 Denzel Franklin – Redshirt sophomore (6'0, 198) SS
  • 29 Dallas Lloyd – Redshirt junior (6'3, 209) SS
  • 45 Calvin Chandler – Redshirt sophomore (6'2, 215) SS

Punters/Kickers

  • 14 Jake Bailey – freshman (6'2 186) P
  • 27 Charlie Beall – freshman (6'2 215) K
  • 34 Conrad Ukropina – Redshirt junior (6'1 185) K
  • 47 Alex Robinson – Redshirt sophomore (6'0 200) P

Long snappers

  • 67 Reed Miller – senior (6'2, 222)
  • 68 C.J. Keller – sophomore (6'3, 215)

Terms:

  • Freshman – A player in his first year.
  • Sophomore – A player in his second year.
  • Junior – A player in his third year.
  • Senior – A player in his fourth year.
  • Redshirt Redshirt – A player who sat out a previous season.
Source: 2015 Stanford Cardinal Football Roster

Schedule

More information Date, Time ...
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 59:00 a.m.at Northwestern*No. 21
ESPNL 6–1636,024[2]
September 127:30 p.m.UCF*
FS1W 31–750,420[3]
September 195:00 p.m.at No. 6 USC
ABCW 41–3178,306[4]
September 257:00 p.m.at Oregon StateNo. 21
FS1W 42–2437,302[5]
October 37:30 p.m.ArizonaNo. 18
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA
P12NW 55–1746,628[6]
October 157:30 p.m.No. 18 UCLANo. 15
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA (rivalry)
ESPNW 56–3550,464[7]
October 247:30 p.m.WashingtondaggerNo. 10
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA
ESPNW 31–1450,424[8]
October 317:30 p.m.at Washington StateNo. 8
ESPNW 30–2830,012[9]
November 710:00 a.m.at ColoradoNo. 11
P12NW 42–1040,142[10]
November 144:30 p.m.OregonNo. 7
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA (rivalry)
FOXL 36–3848,633[11]
November 217:30 p.m.CaliforniaNo. 11
ESPNW 35–2251,424[12]
November 284:30 p.m.No. 6 Notre Dame*No. 9
  • Stanford Stadium
  • Stanford, CA (rivalry)
FOXW 38–3651,424[13]
December 54:45 p.m.vs. No. 20 USCNo. 7
ESPNW 41–2258,476
January 1, 20162:10 p.m.vs. No. 5 Iowa*No. 6
ESPNW 45–1694,268
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Game summaries

At Northwestern

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#21 Cardinal 3 0 0 3 6
Wildcats 3 7 0 6 16
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See also: 2015 Northwestern Wildcats football team

UCF

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Knights 0 0 0 7 7
Cardinal 0 10 7 14 31
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See also: 2015 UCF Knights football team

At #6 USC

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Cardinal 7 17 7 10 41
#6 Trojans 14 7 7 3 31
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See also: 2015 USC Trojans football team and Stanford–USC football rivalry

At Oregon State

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#21 Cardinal 14 7 14 7 42
Beavers 7 6 0 7 20
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See also: 2015 Oregon State Beavers football team

Arizona

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 0 3 14 0 17
#18 Cardinal 13 14 21 7 55
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See also: 2015 Arizona Wildcats football team

#18 UCLA

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#18 Bruins 10 7 3 15 35
#15 Cardinal 14 21 21 0 56
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See also: 2015 UCLA Bruins football team and Stanford–UCLA football rivalry

Washington

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Huskies 0 0 7 7 14
#10 Cardinal 7 10 14 0 31
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See also: 2015 Washington Huskies football team

At Washington State

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#8 Cardinal 3 0 17 10 30
Cougars 3 9 10 6 28
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See also: 2015 Washington State Cougars football team

At Colorado

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#9 Cardinal 7 21 7 7 42
Buffaloes 7 0 3 0 10
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See also: 2015 Colorado Buffaloes football team

Oregon

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Ducks 14 7 14 3 38
#7 Cardinal 10 13 0 13 36
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See also: 2015 Oregon Ducks football team and Oregon–Stanford football rivalry

California

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Bears 3 3 10 6 22
#15 Cardinal 7 14 0 14 35
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See also: 2015 California Golden Bears football team and Big Game (American football)

No. 4 Notre Dame

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#4 Fighting Irish 7 13 9 7 36
#13 Cardinal 14 7 7 10 38
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See also: 2015 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Notre Dame–Stanford football rivalry

In arguably one of the best college football games of the year, a game that had ten lead changes and almost 1,000 yards of offense, Stanford scored five touchdowns in five red zone trips, but it would be Stanford Kicker Conrad Ukropina who hit the game-winning field goal as time expired, which also ended Notre Dame's College Football Playoff hopes while keeping Stanford's playoff hopes alive. With 6:48 left in the game and the Cardinal leading 35–29, the Irish would march 88 yards in 15 plays (using up 6:18 of the play clock). It was capped off by Notre Dame Quarterback DeShone Kizer's two-yard touchdown run to give the Irish the lead with just 30 seconds left in the game. But the Irish defense could not hold as Stanford would go 45 yards in just 28 seconds and finish off the game with the win from Ukropina's field goal.

Vs. #24 USC (Pac-12 Championship)

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#24 Trojans 0 3 13 6 22
#7 Cardinal 3 10 14 14 41
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See also: 2015 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, 2015 USC Trojans football team, and Stanford–USC football rivalry

Vs. #6 Iowa (Rose Bowl)

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
#5 Cardinal 21 14 3 7 45
#6 Hawkeyes 0 0 3 13 16
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See also: 2015 Iowa Hawkeyes football team and 2016 Rose Bowl

Sports analysts had anticipated the contest to be exciting, due mainly to the matchup between Iowa's strong run defense and Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey, the Heisman Trophy runner-up. McCaffrey led the FBS in the 2015 season with 3,864 all-purpose yards, which came from punt/kick returns, runs from scrimmage, and passes out of the backfield.[14] In contrast, Iowa's run defense finished the season ranked 14th, allowing only 121 yards per game and having defeated historically rushing teams like Wisconsin, Indiana, and Nebraska.[15]

McCaffrey caught a short pass and turned it into a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The Hawkeyes were unable to stop him, as he averaged 9.6 YPC (172 yards on 18 carries), returned a punt for a touchdown, and converted many third downs. Though he did not rush for any touchdowns from scrimmage, he proved to be the primary playmaker for Stanford, catching a third of Cardinal Quarterback Kevin Hogan's twelve passes. McCaffrey was such an offensive threat that Hogan was able to make large gains with the read option, including a wide-open first-quarter option TD run.

Stanford's 21-0 first-quarter lead was the most first-quarter points scored by one team in Rose Bowl history.[16] Stanford shut Iowa out in the first half 35–0, with Stanford's 35 points the most scored in the first half of a Rose Bowl in its entire 102-year history.[16] McCaffrey gained a total of 368 all-purpose yards, setting another Rose Bowl record.[16]

Iowa was unable to get their run game going, rushing as a team for 1.3 YPC (48 yards on 38 carries). The longest Iowa runs were 14 and 12 yards,[17] as well as a 14-yard scramble by Quarterback C. J. Beathard. Iowa's inability to establish a run game closed up Iowa's potential for play-action passing, which had been Beathard's bread and butter all season. Iowa's halfbacks, their biggest threat all season, were overall unable to garner any significant yardage on the ground.[17]

By the second half, Stanford's explosiveness slowed down, scoring just 10 second-half points versus their 35 first-half points. Iowa did not score until the 3rd quarter when placekicker Marshall Koehn kicked a field goal after converting on 4th down earlier in the drive; Beathard threw 2 touchdowns in the 4th quarter, with Koehn missing one of the two PATs.

Iowa had a slight advantage in time of possession, possessing the ball for almost 33 minutes, though they were simply unable to make meaning out of their possessions. Iowa also outgained Stanford through the air by a slim margin, with 239 yards to Stanford's 223.[18]

Rankings

Further information: 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
More information Week, Poll ...
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP21RVRV21181615108971513753
Coaches21RV—24201816118871512763
CFPNot released11711976Not released
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Statistics

Team

More information Team statistics, Stanford ...
Team statistics
 StanfordOpponents
Scoring529316
Points Per game37.822.6
Points Off Turnovers9660
First Downs311267
Rushing155106
Passing129145
Penalty2716
Rushing yardage31321958
Yards gained rushing33582358
Yards lost rushing226400
Rushing attempts610453
Average Per rush5.14.3
Average Per game223.7139.9
TDs Rushing3316
Passing yardage29653198
Comp-Att-Int213-318-8271–473–8
Average Per Pass9.36.8
Average Per Catch13.911.8
Average Per game211.8228.4
TDs Passing3019
Total offense60975156
Total play928926
Average Per play6.65.6
Average Per game435.5368.3
Kick returns: # – yards51-126570-1473
Punt returns: # – yards17-15411-93
INT Returns: # – yards8-1258-101
Kick Return Average24.821.0
Punt Return Average9.18.5
INT Return Average15.612.6
Fumbles lost12-510-6
Penalties – yards78-64880-742
Average Per game46.353.0
Punts – yards48-195966-2797
Average Per punt40.842.4
Net punt average37.239.1
Kickoffs – yards96-590069-4003
Average Per kick61.558.0
Net kick average41.434.2
Time of possession/game34:4825:12
3rd-down conversions91/18270/193
3rd-Down Pct50%36%
4th-down conversions13/1615/24
4th-Down Pct81%62%
Sacks By – yards34-26020-104
Miscellaneous Yards00
Touchdowns scored6836
Field goals – attempts18-2023-26
On-Side Kicks0-10-3
Red-Zone Scores(54–62) 87%(41–47) 87%
Red-Zone Touchdowns(41–62) 66%(21–47) 45%
PAT – attempts(67-67) 100%(29–31) 94%
Attendance349,381221,786
Games/Avg Per game7/49,9125/44,357
Neutral Site Games2/76,372
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All opponents

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Stanford 123 158 132 116 529
All opponents 68 69 93 86 316
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Pac-12 opponents

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Stanford 85 127 115 82 409
Pac-12 opponents 57 49 81 53 240
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Non-conference opponents

More information Total ...
1 2 3 4 Total
Stanford 38 31 17 34 120
Non-conference opponents 11 20 12 33 76
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Players drafted into the NFL

See also: 2016 NFL draft
More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position NFL club
128Joshua GarnettGSan Francisco 49ers
381Austin HooperTEAtlanta Falcons
4131Blake MartinezLBGreen Bay Packers
5162Kevin HoganQBKansas City Chiefs
6200Kyle MurphyOTGreen Bay Packers
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References

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