Can Stanford improve leaky defense to slow TCU? Plus, other keys to national TV opener

STANFORD – Stanford will kick off its inaugural ACC season with 19 of 22 starters returning from last year’s team as well as its entire coaching staff. Whether the increased familiarity in coach Troy Taylor’s second season is enough to help the team improve on last season’s 3-9 record will start to become clear in front of a national audience Friday.

As the last game to kick off Friday night, Stanford and TCU will have the stage to themselves when they open their season at Stanford Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

“Last year we kind of laid the foundation for building a better culture and for getting back to winning,” sixth-year linebacker Tristan Sinclair said. “I feel like this year is our year to prove it.”

Here are the key matchups to watch as the Cardinal attempts to pull off the upset as nine-point underdogs and deliver Taylor his first home win. Stanford went 0-7 on The Farm last year, including a loss to FCS-level Sacramento State, where Taylor coached before joining the Cardinal.

DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND

The Cardinal defense ranked 129th out of 130 FBS teams in both points allowed and yards allowed last season, while TCU ranked 11th in total offense.

Stanford’s defense returns nine starters, including two of the ACC’s most experienced linebackers in sixth-year inside linebacker Tristan Sinclair and senior Gaethan Bernadel, who transferred from FIU last season and recorded a team-high 87 tackles, which placed sixth in the Pac-12.

TCU QB Josh Hoover threw for 300 yards in five of his first six career starts last season, and he will play in front of an offensive line with 75 career starts combined.

Both units return most of their starters and their top assistants — Stanford defensive coordinator Bobby April and TCU offensive coordinator Kendall Briles. With both units looking similar to last year, Stanford must hope its experience produces different results this time.

RUNNING START

Taylor’s offense never got humming in Year 1, partly because the offensive line struggled in pass protection and run blocking. The Cardinal had just one veteran lineman last season, Levi Rogers, who played a brand new position (center). This year, the line has 51 career starts.

“I feel great about our guys up front and how hard they’ve worked,” Taylor said. “They’ve really bought in. They’ve gotten bigger, they’ve gotten stronger, they’re more mobile, they have a better understanding of our protection, so I’m excited to watch our guys up front.”

That should help Stanford’s least experienced unit. With E.J. Smith and Casey Filkins gone, sophomore Sedrick Irvin (113 yards on 26 carries) is the leading returning running back. Freshman Micah Ford, a unanimous top-three running back recruit from New Jersey, is also expected to contribute right away.

QB SHUFFLE COMING?

Returning starter Ashton Daniels was pushed in training camp by early enrollee Elijah Brown and fellow junior Justin Lamson, and Taylor wouldn’t commit to a starter leading up to the opener.

“I don’t think I want to reveal my cards right now, but I’ll just say this: We feel great about all three of those guys,” Taylor said. “I think they’re all three outstanding players and I think we can win with all three of them.”

Daniels started 10 games last year and completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,247 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Lamson appeared in 11 games and led the team with 334 rushing yards (2.8 a carry) and five rushing touchdowns while completing 43 percent of his passes for 504 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.

It wouldn’t be surprising for Taylor to play multiple quarterbacks again on Friday.

FAMILIAR FACES

While TCU hasn’t played at Stanford Stadium since 2007 (when the Horned Frogs were led by then-freshman Andy Dalton), there will be members of this year’s team with plenty of experience against Stanford.

TCU coach Sonny Dykes led Cal from 2013-16 but went 0-4 in the Big Game, with each game decided by at least 13 points.

Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, who spent the previous three seasons as Boise State’s head coach, was the defensive coordinator at Oregon when the Ducks won at Stanford 21-6 en route to the Rose Bowl in 2019.

The Horned Frogs defense features transfer Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who had a team-high 92 tackles for Cal last season. The second-team all-Pac-12 selection and Hayward native said he will have approximately 100 family and friends in attendance Friday night.