STANFORD – Stanford used a tried-and-true recipe to defeat Oregon State 26-15 on Saturday afternoon before a roughly half-empty Stanford Stadium.

The first ingredient in that recipe was an effective running game. Junior tailback Christian McCaffrey rushed for a season-high 199 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries as the Cardinal racked up more 365 yards on the ground behind an offensive line that repeatedly paved the way for big gains.

“We go as they go,” McCaffrey said of Stanford’s offense. “The statistics today showed what can happen when they really do their part.”

Mixed in were the Cardinal’s typically stingy defense, which held an opponent to 15 points or fewer for the seventh time this season, and a career-high four field goals from senior placekicker Conrad Ukropina. One of those was a 52-yarder in the first quarter, tying the longest of Ukropina’s career.

The victory, Stanford’s second straight, was the first at home before an announced crowd of 38,813 for the Cardinal (6-3, 4-3 Pac-12) since Sept. 17, when it defeated USC. The victory also made Stanford bowl-eligible for the sixth time in as many years under coach David Shaw and the eighth consecutive year overall.

Not that Shaw found clinching a bowl berth particularly exciting.

“I will never allow us to have that as our goal,” Shaw said. “I refuse to do that to this program. That’s the bare minimum, and we don’t do bare minimums here.”

Stanford also remained on track to win at least 10 games in a season for the fifth time under Shaw. To do that, the Cardinal needs to win all of its remaining games, including its bowl game.

McCaffrey finished with 241 all-purpose yards, which moved him past Glyn Milburn into second place on Stanford’s career list in that category. However, McCaffrey was hardly alone in repeatedly gashing Oregon State’s defense (2-7, 1-5) for long gains: Sophomore tailback Bryce Love and junior quarterback Keller Chryst, making his home debut as Stanford’s starter, each rushed for more than 80 yards.

Love rushed for 85 yards on eight carries, include a 56-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

“If there’s nobody between him and the goal line, nobody’s gonna catch him,” Shaw said.

Chryst added 83 yards on 11 carries, including a 44-yard run that set up McCaffrey’s TD late in the third quarter. That run was the biggest bright spot in a game that was otherwise a mixed bag for Chryst.

The Palo Alto High graduate completed 10 of 17 passes for just 60 yards, Stanford’s lowest total in a victory since 2003. Although he threw no interceptions, Chryst did fumble two snaps, losing one on Stanford’s opening drive.

Chryst also had some difficulty converting trips into the red zone into touchdowns – a big reason why Ukropina had to kick so many field goals.

“We definitely want to get into the end zone every time,” Chryst said. “But we’re at least going to get some points if they’re there.”

Shaw would particularly like to see Chryst do a better job of connecting with receivers on long passes, citing two to senior Michael Rector that could have gone for touchdowns. Still, the coach was willing to cut his quarterback some slack.

“I’m not gonna treat him like a fourth-year vet,” Shaw said. “He just finished start No. 2. There are going to be some growing pains. At the same time, we’re going to try to look for positives every single week.”

Stanford led 10-0 after the first quarter thanks to Ukropina’s first field goal and Love’s TD.

Oregon State cut Stanford’s lead to 10-7 early in the second quarter after sophomore quarterback Marcus McMaryion hit senior wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr. for a 75-yard TD pass. The play was the longest Stanford’s defense had allowed all season.

Still, that was as close as the Beavers got. Stanford did not allow OSU to score again until the fourth quarter, going up 23-7 before McMaryion rushed for a 3-yard TD and threw for a two-point conversion to cut the Cardinal’s lead to 23-15.

The Cardinal had a chance to add to its lead late in the game, but Oregon State kept McCaffrey out of the end zone on a goal-line stand.

• McCaffrey needs 939 all-purpose yards to surpass Darrin Nelson for first place on Stanford’s career list.

McCaffrey also turned in his 16th career 100-yard rushing game, tying him with Nelson for third on Stanford’s career list. Only Stepfan Taylor (21) and Toby Gerhart (20) have more.

Even if he gains 100 yards in each of Stanford’s remaining games, the only way McCaffrey will surpass Taylor’s record is if he returns for his senior season. Stanford has four games remaining after today, counting its bowl game.

• Inside linebackers Kevin Palma and Mustafa Branch each recorded their first career interceptions in the third quarter. Stanford converted both picks into points: Palma’s set up a drive that culminated with Ukropina’s 30-yard field goal, and Branch’s set up the series that ended with McCaffrey’s touchdown.

• Stanford’s offensive line allowed just one sack, its lowest total of the season.

• Junior defensive end Solomon Thomas’ sack streak ended at four games. However, he did have one tackle for loss.