STANFORD, Calif. — On the heels of a historic quarterbacking performance, Ben Gulbranson has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 for Week 5. He is the first Stanford quarterback to earn this award since 2023.
Gulbranson’s performance against San Jose State on Saturday was one of the best in Stanford history. He finished with 29 completions on 43 attempts with 444 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. His 444 passing yards are the third most in a single game in Stanford history, trailing only Davis Mills (504) and Todd Husak (450). It is also the most passing yards thrown by a quarterback in the ACC this season.
212 of Gulbranson’s passing yards came in the fourth quarter as he helped lead Stanford back from a 26-14 deficit to beat the Spartans 30-29. On the game-winning drive, Gulbranson hit Caden High for a 34-yard completion on fourth-and-ten to keep the drive alive and put Stanford in position to take the lead.
Over the last three weeks, Gulbranson has thrown for 916 yards and is completing passes at a 66% clip, with six touchdowns and zero interceptions, leading the ACC in passing yards during that span.
The Cardinal is on a bye week in Week 6 and will hit the road when it returns to action in Week 7, with an ACC battle against SMU on Oct. 11.