STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Stanford Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee (18) passes the ball against the California Golden Bears in the first quarter of the 124th Big Game at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)
COLGATE AT STANFORD
Records: Colgate 5-6 last year; Stanford 3-9 last year
Kickoff: 5 p.m., Stanford Stadium
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM
Television: Pac-12 Bay Area
Series history: Stanford has never faced a team from the Patriot League and Colgate has never faced a team from the Pac-12.
Storylines: Stanford gets a chance to create some positive momentum after going 11-19 in its last three seasons. QB Tanner McKee, the entire offensive line and the top four receivers all return from last season, so the intrigue on offense will be around new starting running back E.J. Smith. Stanford announced Friday that OG Branson Bragg will miss the game with an undisclosed injury and his status for next week’s game vs. USC is questionable. Bragg is a redshirt junior, made 15 starts over the past two seasons. Levi Rogers will start at RG in his place. … This will also be the debut of nickelback Patrick Fields, who came from Oklahoma as the most heralded transfer in program history, and edge David Bailey, who is expected to start as a true freshman in a hybrid defensive lineman/linebacker role. … The Cardinal is facing its third FCS opponent in 12 seasons under David Shaw and its first since hosting UC Davis in 2018. Colgate opened its 2021 season against an FBS opponent, losing at Boston College 51-0. …
Matchup to watch: Colgate running game vs. Stanford run defense. Stanford should dominate in all aspects. Colgate isn’t just an FCS opponent—it’s also an average one. The Raiders are picked to finish third in the seven-team Patriot League this season and had just one all-conference preseason selection, lineman AJ DeSantis. But it will still be interesting to see how the run defense looks after the Cardinal switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3 alignment, the result of finishing in the bottom five in the FBS in rushing yards allowed last season.
Stats that matter: Stanford returns 101 career starts on the offensive line and 86.8 percent of its receiving yards from 2021. … McKee began last season with 161 straight pass attempts without an interception. … CB Kyu Blu Kelly led the Pac-12 with 13 passes defended in 2021. … Raiders QB Michael Brescia had 567 rushing yards and 614 passing yards in nine appearances last season, earning Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors. …This is Colgate’s second trip to California. It beat Cal Poly 20-14 to open the 2017 season.
Originally published at Harold Gutmann