STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford’s success in home openers has mirrored its rise as a football program. In 2008, Stanford began a winning streak in home openers that has reached seven. In those years, the Cardinal has accumulated a 67-25 record and reached bowl games the past six seasons, including a run of four consecutive BCS appearances.
Here's a closer look at Stanford’s home-opening streak:
Aug. 28, 2008: Stanford 36, Oregon State 28
Toby Gerhart ran for a career-high 147 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in his first game back from a knee injury and Stanford took advantage of two bizarre fumbles. The first fumble gave the Cardinal the lead for good on a safety late in the third quarter. The second came with just 47 seconds remaining, when Darrell Catchings tried to stretch the ball over the goal line before Stanford’s Taylor Skaufel knocked it loose and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback.
Sept. 19, 2009: Stanford 42, San Jose State 17
Chris Owusu set the tone and Stanford followed. The electrifying sophomore returned the opening kickoff 94 yards, providing just the first of three scoring returns for the team in the same game, including a 48-yard punt return by Richard Sherman. In his first home game as a starter, sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck completed 9 of 12 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown. Toby Gerhart, who would become the Heisman Trophy runner-up, rushed for 113 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Sept. 4, 2010: Stanford 52, Sacramento State 17
Andrew Luck threw a career-high four touchdown passes in helping Stanford win its first game without Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart. Luck completed 17 of 23 passes for 316 yards, including an 81-yard scoring toss to Doug Baldwin and a 59-yard touchdown to Stepfan Taylor. Luck also threw touchdown passes of 15 yards to Baldwin and 5 yards to Zach Ertz to open a season that would conclude with an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.
Sept. 3, 2011: Stanford 57, San Jose State 3
Andrew Luck gave the game ball to David Shaw after the coach’s head-coaching debut. "As much as we wanted to win," Luck said, "We really wanted to win for him." Luck began his final collegiate season by completing 17 of 26 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another. “We really didn't get into a rhythm," Luck said. "We scored 57 points, but a large part of that was our defense and special teams. They put us in great position."
Aug. 31, 2012: Stanford 20, San Jose State 17
Josh Nunes succeeded the graduated Andrew Luck as Stanford’s quarterback and helped the Cardinal to a narrow victory. Stanford jumped out to a quick 17-3 lead and seemed poised to put the Spartans away early. But San Jose State battled back to tie the game. Jordan Williamson's 20-yard field goal with 13:15 remaining provided the margin of victory. Stanford concluded the season with its first Rose Bowl victory in 42 years.
Sept. 7, 2013: Stanford 34, San Jose State 13
Not until safety Ed Reynolds intercepted a throwaway from San Jose State quarterback David Fales under heavy duress early in the fourth quarter -- and the Cardinal followed with a 52-yard touchdown drive for the clinching score -- was victory assured. Erstwhile minor-league outfielder Tyler Gaffney returned to college football by rushing for 104 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns, including the clincher on a two-yarder with 11:08 left in the game. Stanford would win its second consecutive Pac-12 title and return to the Rose Bowl.
Aug. 30, 2014: Stanford 45, UC Davis 0
Stanford knew it had a star in Ty Montgomery, who scored on a punt return and a long pass. But he nearly got upstaged by freshman Christian McCaffrey. He was force on the kickoffs, making three tackles and a hit that led to another. He was a force on offense, catching a short pass out of the slot and splitting the defense for a 52-yard score on his first collegiate touch. Finally, he was a force on punt returns, sprinting 41 yards in the third quarter.