STANFORD.JPG

Stanford running back Tyler Gaffney averages more than 111 yards per game and is coming off a three-touchdown, 145-yard performance at Oregon State.

(Randy Rassmussen/The Oregonian)

No. 2 Oregon at No. 6 Stanford



When:

6 p.m., Thursday, Stanford Stadium.

On the air:

TV on ESPN/ESPN2, radio on KXTG 750.

Records:

Oregon (8-0 overall, 5-0 Pac-12); Stanford (7-1, 5-1).

Cardinal this season:

Stanford’s only loss was 27-21 at Utah on Oct. 12. It has three wins this season over teams that were ranked at the time --- Arizona State, Washington and UCLA -- improving coach David Shaw’s record to 12-1 against Top 25 teams. He is 3-1 against teams ranked in the Top 10. Like Oregon, Stanford is coming off a bye week. The Cardinal have won 13 in a row at home, the nation’s third longest streak. Their last home loss was to Oregon in 2011.

Stanford strengths:

The Cardinal lead the nation in kickoff returns (29.44 yards), mostly as a result of returner Ty Montgomery, who has two returns for touchdowns and ranks second in the nation with a 32.52 return average. Stanford’s offensive line is also best in the nation at preventing negative plays as the Cardinal have allowed only 24 tackles for a loss. The defense is solid, giving up an average of 19.4 points a game, and outside linebacker Trent Murphy ranks third in the nation with 9.5 sacks.

Stanford weaknesses:

Injuries are the Cardinal’s biggest concern. During the bye week, the Cardinal learned defensive end Ben Gardner, a two-time all conference selection and team captain, would be lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Their other end, Henry Anderson, is trying to come back this week from a knee injury suffered in the season’s second game. Stanford is also hopeful that receiver Devon Cajuste and kicker Jordan Williamson will return after missing the last game at Oregon State with leg injuries.

Star power:

Running back Tyler Gaffney averages 111.75 yards per game, 18th best in the country. He took last season off to pursue a professional baseball career (48th round draft pick), and after batting .297 with 11 stolen bases as an outfielder for the State College Spikes in the Pirates’ organization, he wanted to come back and play football.

Did you know:

Stanford coach David Shaw was a receiver at Stanford from 1991-1994 and is the son of former Raiders defensive coordinator Willie Shaw.

Threat level (1-5 scale):

5. Since the summer, everyone knew this would be the game of the year, and sure enough, it looks like it will decide the Pac-12 North champion. Stanford is the last team to beat Oregon, and Oregon is the last team to beat Stanford at home. It’s Stanford’s size and strength against Oregon’s speed and athleticism. Last season, Stanford ruined Oregon’s chance for the national title with a 17-14 win in overtime at Autzen Stadium.

Early prediction:

Oregon 30, Stanford 21

The links:

After being shaken by his latest miss,

against Stanford.

During his weekly meeting with reporters,

Oregon

in this video.

In the

behind Florida State, Alabama.

The Wall Street Journal sees

Oregon safety

than the last one.

The

writes the San Jose Mercury.

The Daily