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Stanford Cardinal vs Sacramento State Hornets Football Preview

This is at once both a season of promise and a season of peril for the Stanford Cardinal.

The promise comes from a few facts. First, USC is ineligible for the official Pac-10 title and a spot in the Rose Bowl. Second, Oregon is without its main man, Jeremiah Masoli, the leader of a rip-roaring offense that destroyed the Pac-10 in 2009. Third, Andrew Luck – after one season of learning – is poised to be a breakout star on the West Coast. The lauded sophomore has NFL-level potential and is being guided by a coach who has Stanford on the rise, Jim Harbaugh.

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The peril of this season comes from two primary sources. First, Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart is no longer around to burst through opposing defenses with his combination of power and straight-ahead speed. Gerhart made Luck a much better signal caller in 2009, so it could be that Stanford’s offense will be more limited in 2010.

The other thing Stanford must guard against as it prepares to play FCS-based Sacramento State is the simple but potent enemy named overconfidence. Stanford hasn’t hit the big time yet. The Hornets won’t beat them on Saturday, but they might make things just a little bit interesting if the Cardinal don’t show the right attitude.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer