Cardinal Sins: The Notre Dame Defense Meets Stanford's Struggling Offense
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The Legends Trophy has lost a bit of its shine as Notre Dame enters this year’s edition of the rivalry matchup with Stanford, having won six of the past seven meetings and outscoring the Cardinal 296-121 during this time. Expect this domination to continue on Saturday when one of the worst ACC offenses travels to South Bend to take on one of the best defenses in the nation.
Stanford Head Coach and offensive playcaller, Tavita Pritchard, is in his first season at the helm of the Cardinal. Pritchard has spent the majority of his life at Stanford, formerly playing QB for the Cardinal from 2006-09. He threw for 2,865 yards and 15 touchdowns in 31 games played before losing his starting role to current Stanford General Manager, Andrew Luck. Pritchard hopped right into coaching after his college days, joining the Cardinal staff as an assistant in 2010. He would spend 12 years as a Stanford assistant, serving in various roles including Offensive Coordinator, QB Coach, WRs Coach, and RBs Coach. Pritchard most recently served as the Washington Commanders' QB Coach from 2023-25, helping develop Jayden Daniels into the ‘24 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Through five games as the head man at Stanford, it will be interesting to see if Pritchard has any desire to hand off playcalling duties as his offense has averaged a lackluster 17.4 points per game and has been held to under a touchdown in three separate contests.
Stanford Results (2-3)
37-27 win vs Hawaii
6-45 loss vs Miami (FL)
7-35 loss at Duke
34-27 win vs Georgia Tech
3-57 loss at Wake Forest
Overall, Stanford has just struggled to move the ball. They do not turn the ball over and are capable of being a productive passing offense, but a mix of conservative playcalling and being outmatched in terms of skill has spelled a poor start to 2026. It also does not help when they are incapable of running the ball, evidenced by just one game with over 100 rushing yards and an average of under three yards per carry. Below, you find key Stanford offensive statistics:
336.6 total yards per game (16th in the ACC)
5 yards per play (16th in the ACC)
17.4 points per game (Last among P4 Teams)
10 offensive touchdowns (16th in the ACC)
247.8 passing yards per game (10th in the ACC)
5 passing touchdowns (tied-15th in the ACC)
6.84 passing yards per attempt (16th in the ACC)
88.8 rushing yards per game (135th nationally; Last among P4 teams)
2.9 yards per carry (tied-134 nationally; Last in the ACC)
4 rushing touchdowns (Last in the ACC)
34.2% 3rd down conversion rate (tied-13th in the ACC)
2 offensive turnovers (1 of 20 teams with two or fewer turnovers)
As for the Notre Dame defense, they continue to hold the top-rated total defense in the country despite North Carolina’s pass offense being able to hit on a few big plays in last week’s Irish victory.
This weekend, the Irish defense may be a bit shorthanded as CB Leonard Moore and LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa tend to their injuries and prepare for a big-time BYU matchup the following week. Regardless, Notre Dame’s depth is as strong as ever, and the defense should still be firing on Saturday.
LB Drayk Bowen has a team-leading 24 tackles, one TFL, two PBUs, and returned a fumble for a TD. S Adon Shuler has come along the past couple of weeks, bringing his season totals to 22 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one interception, and one forced fumble. EDGE Bryce Young continues to dominate up front with 15 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, three sacks, and one forced fumble. Lastly, S Luke Talich has filled in nicely for the injured Brauntae Johnson, as he enters the Stanford matchup with 14 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, one sack, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick.
Below are Notre Dame’s key defensive statistics and where they rank nationally:
216.4 total yards per game allowed (1st)
4 yards per play allowed (4th)
11.8 points per game allowed (7th)
58.4 rushing yards per game allowed (tied-4th)
2 yards per carry allowed (3rd)
1 rushing touchdown allowed (tied-3rd)
158 passing yards per game allowed (14th)
11 turnovers gained (tied-4th)
6 fumble recoveries (tied-2nd)
5 interceptions (tied-26th)
14 sacks (tied-20th)
2.8 sacks per game (tied-22nd)
Now, here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Stanford offense ahead of battle against Notre Dame on Saturday:
Quarterback
Davis Warren
Stanford brought in Michigan transfer Davis Warren this offseason to compete for, and win, the starting job for the Cardinal. The Sixth-Year, 6-2, 200-pound QB has thrown for 1,207 yards with five touchdowns and one interception while passing at a 59% clip. Warren’s most impressive outing came against Georgia Tech, when he threw 22/36 for 396 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He flashed good arm talent consistently throughout this performance, completing 5/8 throws of 15-plus yards. However, Warren’s play has dipped on the road as he is a combined 37/62 for 287 yards with one touchdown and one interception across Stanford’s two away games.
Warren can make plays when given time, but it can be a long day for the QB if he is under relentless pressure. The Manhattan Beach, California native was sacked four times last week in what was, arguably, his worst game of the season. He does a good job of limiting turnovers, and is capable of creating positive gains with his feet. However, it seems like we probably will not get the best version of Warren on the road against a top-rated defense.
Running Backs
Micah Ford
The 2022-23 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year is in his third year at Stanford. Micah Ford, a 6-0, 225-pound junior RB out of Toms River, NJ, has rushed for 302 yards and accounted for all four of Stanford’s rushing scores across 82 carries. Ford’s four touchdowns are tied for the seventh-most in the ACC. He rushed for a season-high 99 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries against Hawaii. The workhorse RB has also contributed in the receiving game with 11 catches for 65 yards this season.
Touchdown vs Hawaii
Ford is a good downhill runner who ran for 560 yards after contact last season, despite not appearing against Notre Dame. However, his efficiency has been limited this season. The junior is averaging 3.68 yards per carry and has averaged under three yards per carry in three of his five games. He also has been limited in terms of making big plays consistently, with his longest rush of the season being a 28-yard carry. Most of Ford’s production is reliant on good blocking up front, and thus he had very poor performances against Miami and Wake Forest.
Others to watch: Sedrick Irvin
Receivers
Jordan Onovughe
The first Cardinal receiver to highlight is 6-2, 210-pound senior Jordan Onovughe. The former Colorado transfer is in his second year at Stanford. In high school, Onovughe was a part of the 2021 Mater Dei National Championship team as native of Pomona. Like Ford, Onovughe also did not play against Notre Dame last season.
This season, Onovughe has recorded 10 catches for 98 yards in five games played. He has at least three catches in three games, and stood out against Georgia Tech when he tallied a season-high 55 yards on three receptions, including a clutch 30-yard reception on fourth down to help the Cardinal win. However, like his QB, Onovughe has not been as prominent on the road, with just one seven-yard reception against Wake Forest marking his only away catch after being shut down at Duke. The former Colorado transfer possesses good size and physical upside, but has been fairly limited this season with just a 6% target share.
Caden High
Stanford’s most productive receiver this season has been Caden High. The 5-10, 175-pound senior is in his second year with the Cardinal as a former South Carolina State transfer. Last season, High finished with four catches for 34 yards against the Irish.
High has played in four games this season after missing the opener against Hawaii. During this time, he has racked up 17 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns. High’s three receiving scores are tied for the sixth-most in the ACC, and his 66.5 yards per game ranks 12th in the conference. The Atlanta native has at least two catches in each game played, including a season-high six receptions for 92 yards in an encouraging outing against Miami. High’s best game, though, came when he recorded a season-high 121 yards and two touchdowns on just four catches against Georgia Tech. He routinely showed off his big play and explosive abilities in the win.
Georgia Tech game highlights
Touchdown vs Duke
Nico Brown
The third Stanford receiver to highlight is Yale transfer Nico Brown. The 6-0, 190-pound senior joined the Cardinal this offseason following a 2025 First Team All-Ivy League campaign.
Brown has 10 catches for 148 yards and one touchdown in three games played this season after missing the team’s first two contests. The Huntington Beach native has at least one catch in each game played, including a season-high of five receptions for 98 yards and a score against Georgia Tech. Brown displayed his big play ability against the Yellow Jackets when he came down with a 33-yard, fourth-down touchdown in the Cardinal win.
Touchdown vs. Georgia Tech
The senior transfer has solid size, good ball skills, and his 14.8 yards per catch are indicative of his potential impact.
Others to watch: JonAnthony Hall, Atticus Joseph, Zion Robinson
Tight Ends
Benji Blackburn
Warren’s favorite target this season seems to be his reliable, underneath option at tight end. Benji Blackburn is a 6-6, 265-pound junior in his third year at Stanford after committing to the Cardinal as a four-star recruit out of high school. The Miami, Florida, native recorded two catches for 27 yards against Notre Dame last season.
This season, Blackburn has 20 catches for 159 yards in five games played. He has at least two catches in each game, and recorded a season-high seven receptions for 52 yards against Miami, his hometown program. The junior has great size but is not much of a big-play threat, averaging just eight yards per catch, and he is yet to find the end zone this year. It would be wise for Stanford to start utilizing Blackburn in the red zone.
Others to watch: Chico Holt
Offensive Line
LT Niki Prongos
The leader of this below-average line is Niki Prongos. The fifth-year is in his second season at Stanford as a former UCLA transfer. Prongos is a returning starter, having started all 12 games last year in his debut season with the Cardinal. The 6-7, 310-pound tackle led Stanford’s line in PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025.
Remarkably, the Novato native did not even play high school football until his senior year. This season, Prongos has started the past two games after missing the team’s first three contests due to injury. He possesses elite size and length, complemented by good movement and athleticism. Prongos has struggled as a run blocker this season and can get out-muscled by stronger, more powerful edge rushers.
LG Ziron Brown
Brown is a 6-3, 310-pound junior in his third year at Stanford. The physical lineman originally committed to the Cardinal as a four-star recruit out of Waveland, Mississippi. Last season, Brown made three starts across 10 games played.
This season, the junior has struggled in four starts across five games as he continues to develop and build more consistency.
C Fisher Anderson
Playing out of position recently has been the 6-7, 320-pound Fisher Anderson. The Franklin, Tennessee native is in his fifth year at Stanford after originally committing to the Cardinal as a four-star recruit out of high school.
After starting 10 of 12 games played last season, Anderson has started all five games to open 2026. Naturally a tackle, the fifth-year has great size and good movement to go along with his frame. However, Anderson has struggled this season at center and does not appear to play very physically.
RG Simione Pale
Another guy who has struggled all-around this season is senior Simione Pale. The 6-4, 330-pound lineman is in his fourth year at Stanford after committing to the Cardinal as a four-star recruit out of Elk Grove. Pale has been a mainstay along the Stanford line recently, entering this season with 22 starts across his 23 games played.
Pale has started all three games he has played in this year after missing the team’s first two contests. The senior has good size and power, but again, has struggled to find success this season.
RT Kahlil House
The final player to highlight on the Stanford offense is lineman Kahlil House. The 6-5, 300-pound junior is in his third year with the Cardinal after originally committing to the program out of Warner Robins, Georgia.
After starting all 12 games played last season, House has seen his time reduced in three starts in the team’s first five games this year. This is due to his poor performances, as he is another piece of this unit who has not found their footing yet. Regardless, House does have good size and flashes solid athleticism.
Others to watch: OL Josh Williams
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