Stanford run defense nation's stingiest STANFORD

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While Stanford fans are abuzz over quarterback Kevin Hogan's performance Saturday, there was news on the other side of the ball.

Sure, it helped to play woeful Colorado while Alabama had its hands full with LSU, but Stanford leapfrogged the Crimson Tide into the top spot as the nation's stingiest run defense.

On the other hand, Stanford dropped one notch to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll. It was replaced in the 15th spot by Texas A&M, which throttled previously 17th-ranked Mississippi State.

For the second week in a row, Stanford held an opponent to minus rushing numbers partly as a result of gaudy sack totals. In college ball, sacks are counted against rushing totals even though they come at the expense of passing plays.

During Stanford's 48-0 win in Boulder, Colo., the Cardinal's seven sacks for 46 yards dropped Colorado's rushing total to minus-21 yards. A week earlier, the Cardinal's 10 sacks dropped Washington State's total to minus-18 yards.

Having limited Cal to 3 yards rushing, the Cardinal have given up a net minus-36 yards in the past three weeks.

Colorado quarterback Nick Hirschman, left, is sacked for a loss by Stanford linebacker Alex Debniak in the third quarter of Stanford's 48-0 victory in an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) less Colorado quarterback Nick Hirschman, left, is sacked for a loss by Stanford linebacker Alex Debniak in the third quarter of Stanford's 48-0 victory in an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo., on ... more Photo: David Zalubowski, Associated Press Photo: David Zalubowski, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Stanford run defense nation's stingiest 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

That's not a statistical anomaly. That's dominating your opponents, stuffing their runs and forcing them to try to pass.

No. 1 Alabama, which had been tops in run defense, gave up 139 yards on the ground to LSU in the Tide's pulsating 21-17 win Saturday night. That increased Alabama's average rushing yards allowed to 66.33, while Stanford's dropped to 57.78.

Stanford's defense - recently dubbed "Treefense" on Twitter - also ranks first in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision in sacks (4.33 per game) and tackles for loss (9.22). (By the way, the Bay Area has two of the nation's most sack-happy teams: San Jose State is fourth at 3.56.)

Up next for Stanford is the final home game at noon Saturday against No. 13 Oregon State. The Beavers are exceptionally tough against the run as well, ranking fifth in the country (91.75-yard average).

Colorado offered no such resistance. The Cardinal rushed for 206 yards, although Stepfan Taylor had just 10 carries for 43 yards in what amounted to a cameo role in a one-sided game. He scored two touchdowns, however, giving him 39 for his career, third most in school history.

He needs 53 yards to post his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season. No Stanford player has ever done that; Darrin Nelson did it in three seasons, but not consecutively. Taylor also needs 317 yards to break Nelson's school record of 4,033 career yards.

Although coach David Shaw was noncommittal after the game about which quarterback will start against Oregon State, it would be a major shock if it isn't Hogan off his stirring performance against the Buffaloes. An offense that had struggled most of the season came alive under his direction.

"He's a big, strong, fast runner," Colorado linebacker Brady Daigh said. "He spread out the offense a little more. He took them sideline to sideline. We game-planned for him, but we didn't expect him to take as many snaps as he took."

Nobody did, not even Shaw. But credit him with going with the hot hand at the expense of starter Josh Nunes.