The Opening Kickoff
- Stanford football returns home on Saturday afternoon against San Jose State in the Bill Walsh Legacy Game. Kickoff inside Stanford Stadium on Sept. 27 is at 4:30 pm PT on ACC Network.
- Saturday's game is the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, which was named in 2007 following the coaching icon's passing. Walsh was a San Jose State alum and the head coach of the Stanford Cardinal from 1977-78 and again from 1992-94. The local rivalry was played on a near-annual basis from 1948-2013.
- The Cardinal fell 48-20 to Virginia in Week 4, the team's first ACC loss of the season. Stanford will not play another ACC game until Oct. 11 at SMU.
- Stanford's offense is starting to hit chunk plays in the passing game thanks to Bryce Farrell. The sixth-year senior caught passes of 60 and 68 yards against Virginia, the latter going for a touchdown. He became the first Cardinal with multiple catches of at least 60 yards in a game since Elic Ayomanor (97, 60) at Colorado on Oct. 13, 2023. Over the last three weeks, Farrell has the third most receiving yards in the ACC.
- Farrell isn't the only receiver getting hot in Stanford's offense. CJ Williams had a career game at Virginia in Week 4, setting career highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (103). By also eclipsing the 100-yard mark, Stanford finished with multiple receivers over 100 yards for the first time since last year's season finale against San Jose State. For the season, Williams is in the top 15 in the ACC in receptions.
- Through four weeks, Stanford's defense ranks near the top of the NCAA in many defensive categories. Stanford is one of 11 teams with multiple defensive touchdowns and one of six with a fumble and interception return for a touchdown. Stanford is also tied for 26th in sacks (10) and ranks 23rd in opponents' red zone touchdown percentage (42.9%).
- Through four games, Micah Ford has risen to the top of the league as one of the best backs in the ACC. Ford ranks fourth in the ACC in rushing yards with 335, and he has the fourth most broken tackles in the nation (25), per PFF. He has multiple 100-yard games in 2025, including a 157-yard performance in Stanford's home opener against Boston College.
- Stanford is attempting to begin 2-0 at home for the first time since 2018, the last time the Cardinal played in a bowl game (2018 Sun Bowl).