Fifth-ranked Stanford, once again in the mix for the Pac-12 title and maybe even more, pounded No. 3 Oregon, 26-20, on Thursday in one of this college-football season's biggest games, making the Cardinal the only team to slow down the Ducks the last two years. That makes this as good a time as any to ponder one of this sport's great mysteries: How is Stanford doing it?

There is no single reason for Stanford's rise from a pushover—one that supposedly couldn't compete because of its tough academic standards—to a powerhouse that...