Marcio Jose Sanchez

By Andrew Greif, The Oregonian/OregonLive

For Stanford football in 2018, Love isn't all you need.

The Cardinal will need a better defense, and special teams to remain steady.

Yet even still, star running back Bryce Love holds the keys for the Cardinal entering his final season on The Farm. And because he and his big-play ability is back, Stanford remains one of the top contenders to win the Pac-12 North for a second consecutive season.

As the kickoff to The Oregonian/OregonLive’s 2018 college football preview in the Pac-12, we examine Stanford. Monday through Saturday this week, we'll look at the Pac-12 North's division. And starting next week, we'll run through the Pac-12 South.

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1. Last season recap

After a 1-2 start, Stanford won five in a row including victories over Oregon and Oregon State. In the latter, JJ Arcega-Whiteside caught a jump-ball touchdown pass from three yards to escape Corvallis in the final 20 seconds. The win streak ended Nov. 4 in a loss at 25th-ranked Washington State. The Cardinal then began another streak, this time three straight, that included wins over two teams ranked ninth — Washington on Nov. 10, Notre Dame on Nov. 25 — before losing to Pac-12 South champion USC in the conference title game by three points. In the Alamo Bowl, Stanford lost an 18-point lead to TCU and eventually the game, 39-37. Stanford finished 9-5, which tied for the most losses under coach David Shaw in his seven seasons.

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2. Superlatives

Leading returning rusher: Bryce Love, 2,118 yards, 19 touchdowns, 8.05 avg.

Leading returning passer: K.J. Costello, 58.8 completion percentage, 1,573 yards, 14 touchdowns, 4 interceptions

Leading returning receiver: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, 48 catches, 781 yards, nine touchdowns, 16.27 avg.

Leading returning tackler: Linebacker Bobby Okereke, 94 tackles.

Leading returning defensive back: Alijah Holder. He had 26 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception but missed the final six games after injuring a leg in late October.

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Randy L. Rasmussen for The Oregonian/OregonLive

Stanford's JJ Arcega-Whiteside against Oregon State last season.

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3. Returning all-conference players

Running back Bryce Love and offensive lineman Nate Herbig are returning first-team honorees. Second-team punter Jake Bailey also returns along with several honorable mention players: OL Jesse Burkett, OL A.T. Hall, OL Walker Little, LB Bobby Okereke, RB/returner Cameron Scarlett, S Brandon Simmons, PK Jet Toner, WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside, Jr.

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Jeffrey T. Barnes

Harrison Phillips is now with the Buffalo Bills.

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4. Key losses

Coordinator Lance Anderson’s defense took the biggest hit with the NFL departures of three all-conference defenders: tackle Harrison Phillips, safety Justin Reid and defensive back Quenton Meeks. Meeks and Reid led Stanford in passes defended and Reid’s five interceptions tied for most in the Pac-12. That isn’t to say the offense wasn’t also affected. Tight end Dalton Schultz and offensive lineman David Bright, each all-Pac-12 selections themselves, also are gone.

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5. Breakout candidates

Linebacker Bobby Okereke was named to the LOTT Impact Trophy watch list after earning all-conference honorable mention honors last year with 96 tackles, including 7.5 for loss. Up front, two-year starting center Jesse Burkett was named to the Rimington Trophy watch list for a second straight season and Walker Little, the 2017 class’s top offensive tackle, could develop more fully into his potential after starting six games as a freshman. At quarterback, K.J. Costello replaced Keller Chryst as the starter down the stretch last fall and even after a hip injury kept him limited during spring practices, he’s expected to be full-go in time for preseason practices. With so much attention on Love's running, defenses will give Costello plenty of opportunity to throw.

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Marcio Jose Sanchez

Bryce Love rushed for 19 touchdowns last season.

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6. A strength

It’s obviously Love, the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season. At his best, the 5-10, 196-pound back was so good he made Cardinal fans forget their preseason consternation about who would replace the production of Christian McCaffrey. Love wasn’t fully healthy after injuring an ankle in late October yet still ran for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns en route to being Stanford’s 10th unanimous All-America. He won everything short of the Heisman, claiming the Doak Walker and Lombardi awards as well as Pac-12 offensive player of the year, and did it all with his signature big-play ability, breaking off a 50-yard run in 11 consecutive games dating back two seasons.

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7. A weakness

The Cardinal ranked 80th nationally in yards per carry allowed (4.59 YPC) and that was with a monster talent on the inside in Phillips, the eventual third-round NFL draft pick. Phillips racked up a stunning 100 tackles last season as an interior lineman, a position that typically doesn’t lend itself to huge tackle totals. The figure signifies both his talent and how much he was relied upon to blunt opponents’ run games, as well as a reminder that stopping the run won’t be any easier this season with Phillips gone.

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8. 2018 recruiting ranking

39th nationally, seventh Pac-12, per 247Sports composite ranking. QB Tanner McKee, an Elite 11 camper, ranked as the country's 46th-best recruit.

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9. Coaching changes

Mike Bloomgren left to become Rice’s coach, meaning Anderson took over his title of associate head coach. Kevin Carberry joined the staff as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator after four seasons in the NFL with Washington and Dallas. Bobby Kennedy also is a new face coaching receivers. He replaces Tavita Pritchard, who was elevated to Stanford’s offensive coordinator.

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Rick Bowmer

David Shaw is 73-22 in seven seasons.

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10. Schedule (all times PT)

Aug. 31: San Diego State (6 p.m., FS1)

Sept. 8: USC (5:30 p.m., FOX)

Sept. 15: UC Davis (11 a.m., Pac-12 Network)

Sept. 22: at Oregon

Sept. 29 at Notre Dame (4:30 p.m., NBC)

Oct. 6: Utah

Oct. 18: at Arizona State

Oct. 27: Washington State

Nov. 3: at Washington

Nov. 10: Oregon State

Nov. 17: at California

Nov. 24: at UCLA

Nine of Stanford’s 2018 opponents played in bowl games last season and eight finished with a winning record.