Opinion
3 min read

Clash at Stanford Stadium: Stanford Cardinal to Face Arizona State Sun Devils in College Football Showdown

As the Stanford Cardinal prepare to host the Arizona State Sun Devils at the iconic Stanford Stadium, fans are buzzing with anticipation for what promises to be a thrilling college football encounter. The upcoming game, scheduled for September 30th, is set against a backdrop of recent performances that suggest an edge for the home team.


Nov 7, 2020; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Stanford Cardinal linebacker Levani Damuni (30) celebrates after intercepting a pass during the first half against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinal's last outing on September 24th saw them dominate with a resounding 58-34 victory over UCLA Bruins. The offensive prowess was on full display as they amassed an impressive 553 total yards, with their ground game churning out 405 yards alone. Averaging nine yards per carry and securing five rushing touchdowns underscored their dominance in this facet of play. Moreover, their red zone efficiency was flawless; they capitalized on all eight opportunities presented to them.


Contrastingly, the previous game against San Diego State Aztecs on September 17th highlighted some areas of concern despite narrowly losing by three points. Turnovers were a significant issue as they gave up possession three times and struggled in third-down situations converting only three out of eleven attempts.


However, it's worth noting that even during this loss, there were glimpses of potential within the team's rushing attack which averaged nearly eight yards per attempt and accounted for both touchdowns scored by STA that day.


Looking back further to September 10th against USC Trojans reveals another mixed bag performance from STA. While they lost by eighteen points in front of over seventy-seven thousand spectators at United Airlines Field at LA Memorial Coliseum, there were still positives such as two interceptions made by their defense and maintaining a hundred percent conversion rate in both red zone attempts and goal-to-go situations.


Drawing insights from these past games paints a picture where if STA can harness their evident offensive firepower while tightening up defensively — particularly against turnovers — they stand a good chance of overcoming ASU come game day.


Fans should expect STA to lean heavily on their running game which has been consistently effective across recent matches while also looking for improvements in ball security and defensive resilience when under pressure from ASU’s offense.


The stage is set for what could be one of the most exciting games this season at Stanford Stadium. Fans eager not to miss any action can catch live coverage on Pac-12 Network when kickoff commences at 1:00 PM local time (PDT) on Saturday, September 30th.

Rate the article

Related stories

Stanford Cardinal's Resilience to be Tested Against Wake Forest
Opinion

Stanford Cardinal's Resilience to be Tested Against Wake Forest

3 min read
Cardinal Set to Soar or Stumble Against SMU Mustangs?
Opinion

Cardinal Set to Soar or Stumble Against SMU Mustangs?

3 min read
Stanford Cardinal to Unleash Their Might Against Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Opinion

Stanford Cardinal to Unleash Their Might Against Notre Dame Fighting Irish

4 min read