Stanford Cardinal is 4-4 on the season, 3-5 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -10.1. Stanford Cardinal is covering at just 40% since the start of last season (8-12), below the FBS average, a notable trend for spread bettors. The Stanford Cardinal head to Louisville next in Week 9.
In Week 8 of 2026 the Stanford Cardinal Power Rating of -10.1 is 10.1 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Stanford Cardinal have logged 13,227 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 21,806 miles, ranking 2nd heaviest in the FBS.
Stanford Cardinal Coaching Staff and Key Players
Head coachTavita Pritchard
TenureFirst season
Offensive coordinatorTerry Heffernan
Defensive coordinatorKris Richard
Offense
Davis Warren QB, Micah Ford RB, Caden High WR, Benji Blackburn TE, Niki Prongos OL, Fisher Anderson OL, Simione Pale OL
Defense
Matt Rose LB, Jay Green S, Scotty Edwards S, Charlie Eckhardt S, Darrius Davis S, Brandon Nicholson CB, Braden Marceau-Olayinka DL, Zach Rowell DL
Special teams
Aidan Flintoft P, Emmet Kenney K
2025 Season in Review
Record4-8ATS5-7O/U6-6
Running totals after each week played. Cumulative, not per week.
After
Record
ATS
O/U
Week 0
0-1
0-1
0-1
Week 2
0-2
0-2
0-2
Week 3
1-2
1-2
1-2
Week 4
1-3
1-3
2-2
Week 5
2-3
1-4
3-2
Week 7
2-4
1-5
3-3
Week 8
3-4
2-5
3-4
Week 9
3-5
2-6
4-4
Week 10
3-6
2-7
5-4
Week 11
3-7
3-7
5-5
Week 13
4-7
4-7
5-6
Week 14
4-8
5-7
6-6
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics'
own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season
to the next - see
most underrated and
overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
2026 Power Rating Trajectory
Opened -6.0 in the preseason and finished -10.1 after week 8, a move of -4.1 points. High -2.4 (week 1), low -11.0 (week 7).
PreW8
Stanford Cardinal SP+ Profile
Offence+22.795 of 138higher is better
Defence+24.055 of 138lower is better
Special teams-0.6129 of 138higher is better
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the
systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip
Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower
figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for
that.
How Confident Is This Rating?
Sources blended5
Source spread±4.0 pts
HFA measured+2.0 pts
HFA applied+2.4 pts
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured and applied home field advantage agree to within 0.3 points here, so smoothing changes little for this venue.
Record Against 2026 Opponents
Regular and postseason meetings, 2016–2025.
Over/under history begins in 2017 and 2020 was shortened by COVID, so game counts vary.
Stanford's first season under head coach Tavita Pritchard has been a rollercoaster. The Cardinal opened with a 37-27 win over Hawai'i, then were blown out by Miami (45-6) and Duke (35-7) before a 34-27 comeback win over Georgia Tech. Since then, they have been outscored 115-10 in losses to Wake Forest (57-3) and Notre Dame (58-7), and they needed a 34-7 win over FCS Elon to stop the bleeding. At 3-4, the team has shown it can compete at home but has been overmatched on the road and against elite competition.
Davis Warren's ball security is a building block
Quarterback Davis Warren, a transfer from Michigan, has been a bright spot. He has thrown for 1,215 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions, a stark departure from his nine-interception season at Michigan in 2024. His best game came in the win over Georgia Tech, where he set a career high with 396 passing yards and three touchdowns. Warren's poise and decision-making have kept Stanford competitive in games where the defense has struggled. However, he has received limited support from the running game outside of Micah Ford's occasional outbursts, and the offensive line has allowed pressure in key moments.
Micah Ford is the engine of the offense
Running back Micah Ford has been the most consistent playmaker for Stanford. He scored three touchdowns in the season-opening win over Hawai'i and tied a school record with four touchdowns in the win over Elon, including an 81-yard run. Ford's ability to find the end zone has been crucial, but his production has been streaky. In the losses to Duke, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame, he was held in check, and the offense stalled. For Stanford to find more consistency, Ford needs to be more involved early and often, especially in the red zone where the Cardinal have struggled.
Defensive woes against competent quarterbacks
The Stanford defense, under new coordinator Kris Richard, has been a major liability. The unit was torched by Miami's Darian Mensah (five touchdown passes, 401 yards) and Wake Forest's Gio Lopez (five total touchdowns). Even in the win over Hawai'i, the defense nearly blew a 16-point fourth-quarter lead. The pass rush has been inconsistent, and the secondary has given up explosive plays. The absence of leading tackler Matt Rose in the Wake Forest game exposed depth issues. While the defense showed improvement against Elon, that was against an FCS opponent. The Cardinal must find answers on this side of the ball to compete in the ACC.
Road struggles and schedule challenges
Stanford's road losing streak has reached 14 games, the longest in the nation. The Cardinal have been outscored 115-10 in their last two road games and have not won away from home since 2024. The schedule has been brutal, with cross-country trips to Duke, Wake Forest, and Notre Dame in a four-week span. The team has traveled over 6,600 miles this season. With remaining games against NC State, and others, Stanford must find a way to compete on the road to avoid another losing season. The home field has been a saving grace, but the road woes are a significant hurdle.
What is Stanford Cardinal's against-the-spread record in 2026?
Stanford Cardinal is 3-5 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 38% of games.
What is Stanford Cardinal's Blue Chip Analytics power rating?
Stanford Cardinal holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -10.1, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
What is Stanford Cardinal's home field advantage rating?
Stanford Cardinal's home field advantage rating is 2.4 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
What is Stanford Cardinal's 2026 win total?
Stanford Cardinal's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 3.5 wins, priced at -135 over and +105 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
How many miles does Stanford Cardinal travel in 2026?
Stanford Cardinal travels 21,806 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 2nd heaviest in the FBS.
How does Blue Chip Analytics calculate cumulative travel distance?
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
26
Final
23
38
Final
61
13
Final
20
30
Final
24
34
Final
6
31
Final
34
34
Final
41
16
Final
35
19
Final
16
38
Final
35
14
Final
28
28
Final
31
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