Stanford Football

Stanford has hired Troy Taylor as its next football coach, the school announced Saturday.

Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee first reported the news.

Taylor has coached Sacramento State for four years and led the Hornets to an undefeated regular-season record and the No. 2 seed in the FCS playoffs this year. They reached the quarterfinals before a 66-63 upset loss to Incarnate Word on Friday.

Stanford director of athletics Bernard Muir discussed the hire in a statement:

"Troy is a proven winner who has experienced success at many levels of football. Throughout our visits together he demonstrated an understanding of what makes Stanford special, and a deep desire to capitalize on our unique strengths. He possesses an incredible football mind and has a long history of caring deeply for the student-athletes he leads. I am excited for the next chapter of Cardinal football and eager for our student-athletes to experience Troy's passion, wisdom and leadership."

Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was a finalist for the Stanford job, according to Stewart Mandel of The Athletic, but he announced Thursday that he would remain an analyst for NBC Sports. Former Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio were also reportedly in the running.

Taylor has served as Sacramento State's head coach and offensive coordinator. He has been the Big Sky Coach of the Year twice and won the Eddie Robinson Award in 2019 as the FCS coach of the year.

Prior to his time at Sacramento State, the 54-year-old was the offensive coordinator for Eastern Washington in 2016, coaching receiver Cooper Kupp, before moving to the Pac-12 and leading the offense for Utah in 2017 and 2018.

He played four years as a quarterback for California, tallying 51 touchdown passes from 1986 to 1989. He played two years in the NFL with the New York Jets and then moved into coaching, including five seasons as a position coach at Cal from 1996 to 2000.

Taylor will try to turn things around for Stanford after back-to-back 3-9 seasons.

The Cardinal were a perennial Top 10 team in the first part of former coach David Shaw's tenure after he took over in 2011, but the program has floundered in recent years and has only 14 wins in the last four seasons.

Shaw resigned in November as the winningest coach in Stanford history.

Despite receiving strong consideration for the Stanford head-coaching job, Jason Garrett will remain in his current position with NBC Sports.

Garrett announced on Twitter he won't be replacing David Shaw:

On Thursday, Stewart Mandel of The Athletic reported Garrett and Sacramento State's Troy Taylor were among the finalists to get the Stanford job.

Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman was also among the candidates Stanford's athletic department met with. Mandel noted Roman, Bronco Mendenhall and Vic Fangio are no longer in the mix for the position.

Shaw made the surprise announcement that he was stepping down immediately following Stanford's 36-25 loss to BYU on Nov. 26.

"A week ago, 10 days ago, I was gung-ho to be the person to lead us there, and over the last few days I realized it was time," Shaw told reporters. "It was time for me to step aside, time for the next group to come in, and hopefully whoever they hire next wins more games than I do. That would be awesome."

The decision came as the Cardinal finished with a 3-9 record for the second consecutive season. They are 14-28 in the past four seasons and haven't made a bowl appearance since 2018.

Garrett joined NBC Sports as an analyst for NFL games and Notre Dame football in April. He spent the previous two years as offensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

The Giants hired Garrett in January 2020 after he was fired as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. The 56-year-old former quarterback had an 85-67 record in 10 seasons with the Cowboys.

In the wake of David Shaw's resignation as Stanford head football coach, the program is narrowing its list of potential replacements.

Per The Athletic's Stewart Mandel, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is one of the finalists for the job.

Sacramento State head coach Troy Taylor is also a finalist.

Shaw told reporters after the Cardinal's 36-25 loss to BYU on Nov. 26 he was stepping down after 12 seasons with the program.

"A week ago, 10 days ago, I was gung-ho to be the person to lead us there, and over the last few days I realized it was time," he said. "It was time for me to step aside, time for the next group to come in, and hopefully whoever they hire next wins more games than I do. That would be awesome."

The decision came after Stanford finished 3-9 for the second consecutive season. Shaw began his tenure with eight straight winning records from 2011 to 2018, but the Cardinal have had losing records in three of the past four years.

Mandel noted other candidates, including Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, are no longer being considered for the job.

Taylor has a 30-7 record in three seasons at Sacramento State. The Hornets are getting set to play Incarnate Word in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs on Friday.

Garrett is serving as an announcer for NBC Sports. He covers Notre Dame football and is an analyst for Sunday Night Football and Football Night in America.

Prior to his broadcasting career, Garrett most recently served as offensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 2020 to 2021. The 56-year-old had a 10-year run as Cowboys head coach from 2010 to 2019.

The Cowboys went 85-67 with three playoff appearances under Garrett. He spent six seasons as an assistant coach with the Cowboys and Miami Dolphins before becoming a head coach.

Stanford is reportedly targeting Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman to replace David Shaw as the Cardinal's next head football coach.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported there is "mutual interest" between the two parties, and Roman has emerged as the vacancy's top candidate.

The 50-year-old has been an NFL offensive assistant for nearly a quarter-century after beginning his career with the Carolina Panthers in 1995. His only collegiate experience came at Stanford during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, when he served as a tight ends and offensive tackles coach under Jim Harbaugh.

When Harbaugh took the San Francisco 49ers' head coaching job in 2011, Shaw was promoted to Stanford's head coach and Roman followed Harbaugh to San Francisco. Roman has served as the offensive coordinator for the 49ers, Buffalo Bills and Ravens over the course of his career.

Baltimore promoted Roman to offensive coordinator in 2019, lining him up with Lamar Jackson's full-time takeover as the team's starting quarterback. Jackson won an MVP during his first season under Roman's tutelage and has made two of the last three Pro Bowls.

There has been some criticism of Roman's offensive philosophy, leading to speculation about his job security after last season, but he would be a solid hire for a Stanford program in desperate need of a revamp.

The Cardinal were 14-28 during Shaw's final four seasons, with his tenure concluding with back-to-back 3-9 campaigns. Stanford has struggled to keep up in the increasingly competitive college recruitment rat race, with NIL money and the ability of players to transfer more freely creating a difficult environment.

Roman has no head-coaching experience but brings an NFL cache that could create an energy that was lacking late in Shaw's tenure.

Stanford football coach David Shaw announced his resignation Saturday, ending the most successful tenure in program history.

"After many prayers and multiple discussions with my wife, one phrase keeps coming to me - it's time," Shaw said in a statement. "There are not sufficient words to describe the love and gratitude I feel for my family, all of my former and current players, my staff, this administration and the entire Stanford family. Thank you all."

Shaw went 96-54 over the course of 12 seasons at his alma mater, setting the all-time record for wins in program history. The 50-year-old began his career with a stretch of unprecedented success, with the Cardinal reeling off eight straight winning seasons and reaching a New Year's Six game four times.

However, the program has fallen off significantly over the last four seasons. Shaw leaves after going a combined 14-28 since 2019, including back-to-back 3-9 campaigns.

Once considered a hot candidate for NFL head-coaching jobs, Shaw says he has no immediate plans to continue coaching.

"I am not burnt out," Shaw told reporters. "I'm healthy; I feel good. But 16 years is a long time. ... 16 years of running a program, 16 years of being responsible for everything and everybody catches up to you."

Shaw came to Stanford in 2007 to serve as the offensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh. He was named head coach when Harbaugh left for the San Francisco 49ers after the 2010 season, continuing the upward trajectory that began during the Harbaugh era. Stanford won three Pac-12 titles in Shaw's first five seasons and peaked in 2015, finishing as the third-ranked team in the country.

While Shaw drew praise for doing less with more—Stanford's high academic requirements can create issues in recruiting—the program has lagged behind in an era of transfers and NIL endorsements.

"Stanford historically doesn't change quickly," Shaw said. "We are methodical. ... It's been difficult, but it's been difficult for everybody."

Shaw previously spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens before coming to Stanford. It would not be a surprise to see him eventually land an NFL coaching position, though he's not going to be at the top of as many lists as he would have been four or five years ago.

The Stanford Tree will have a new inhabitant for the time being.

Jordan Zietz, who became the 44th student to occupy the costume in April, was suspended from his Tree-related duties after holding a banner that read, "Stanford hates fun." The marching band, of which the Stanford Tree is a part, handed down the ban.

The offending banner was shown at halftime of the Cardinal's 15-14 win over Arizona State on Oct. 22.

Theo Baker of the Stanford Daily reported how the act of protest reflected concerns of students who believe the school has launched a "war on fun" and been too heavy-handed in restricting on-campus parties and events.

Even though Stanford administrators weren't involved in issuing the punishment, the Tree's suspension is unlikely to help that perception.

No. 3 Oregon was upset on Saturday in a 31-24 overtime loss to unranked Stanford.

Oregon star defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, a preseason all-American, was penalized for targeting and ejected during the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. He'll miss the first half of the Ducks' next game against Cal on October 15.

Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee was outstanding with 230 yards and three touchdowns, including the two biggest scores of the game. After a defensive holding penalty gave Stanford the ball on Oregon's two-yard line with no time left on the clock, McKee found Elijah Higgins in the end zone to force overtime.

In the extra period, McKee orchestrated a six-play drive that ended with a touchdown pass to John Humphreys to take the lead. Stanford's defense stopped Oregon in four downs on the very next possession to seal the win.

Oregon trailed by 10 at halftime before rallying in the second half to take the lead. Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown was held to 186 yards and threw an interception but added two rushing touchdowns.

However, the Ducks committed three penalties on Stanford's game-tying 87-yard drive in the final 1:59 of regulation. Thibodeaux had six tackles with one for a loss before being ejected from the game. A roughing the passer penalty followed by the defensive holding call gifted Stanford the extra chances it needed to tie the game.

Oregon was without offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, who was being evaluated for a non-COVID-related illness. The Ducks also lost running back CJ Verdell to injury as he was taken to the locker room on a cart in the third quarter. Verdell ran for 63 yards and a touchdown prior to his exit.

Oregon was the third team ranked in the Top 10 to lose on Saturday.

Add Stanford head coach David Shaw to the list of people frustrated with Fox's Big Noon Kickoff.

Shaw voiced his displeasure with Fox Sports for scheduling his team's Sept. 4 season opener against Kansas State for noon ET, which will be 9 a.m. on the body clocks for Stanford players. He also showed some support for fellow Pac-12 school Oregon, which will take on Ohio State on Sept. 11 at noon ET.

"I am pissed at Fox for our kickoff time against Kansas State," Shaw said, per Stewart Mandel of The Athletic. "… For Stanford in particular and Oregon to be going and playing in a different time zone, and give us an early kickoff, to me, is incredibly disrespectful. And it shows a lack of understanding of what we have to do, and the way that time difference truly affects us. It shows a lack of care for our student athletes."

He continued, saying, "That, to me, is something that is egregious, and I don't care who I piss off, but I think they're wrong. A lot of our people in our conference are upset too."

Playing these marquee nonconference games, especially in the case of Oregon against the powerhouse Buckeyes, is difficult enough for Power Five schools looking to make an early season statement without having to worry about time-zone differences.

There is also something to be said about the difference in environments between early and late kickoffs, although that could work in Oregon's favor going to Ohio State. Early kickoffs give fans less time to tailgate, which means it could lead to less raucous atmospheres even for high-profile showdowns.

That seemed to be the implication when Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione issued a statement saying the school is "bitterly disappointed" with an early kickoff for its upcoming game against Nebraska:

There is, of course, something of a tradeoff between schools and conferences receiving the publicity that comes with massive media-rights deals and what said media companies want to do in terms of kickoff times and maximizing ratings.

But Fox's commitment to dominating the noon ET time slot isn't sitting right with some people in college football.

The Pac-12 apologized Friday for errors that resulted in a false positive test for a Stanford football player prior to last week's game against Oregon.

The conference noted that the student-athlete tested positive before the Oregon game. As a result, he and other players who were deemed close contacts were unable to play.

The player underwent daily PCR diagnostic testing afterward, and those tests determined he did not have COVID-19, so he has been cleared to resume practicing and playing.

Stanford announced prior to the Oregon game that starting quarterback Davis Mills, defensive end Trey LaBounty and wide receiver Connor Wedington would be unavailable because of COVID-19 protocols.

Without those players in the lineup, Stanford fell 35-14 to the No. 12 Ducks on the road. It was the opening weekend for the Pac-12 after the conference's season was delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Junior Jack West played in place of Mills and went 13-of-19 for 154 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Freshman Tanner McKee also saw some action under center, going 3-of-7 for 62 yards.

Mills, who is a senior, appeared in eight games last season, completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,960 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also had an eight-yard receiving score.

The Cardinal will look to get back on track Saturday against the 1-0 Colorado Buffaloes.

Since Pac-12 teams are only playing a six-game regular-season schedule, Stanford can ill afford to fall to 0-2 if it wants to vie for a Pac-12 title or qualify for a bowl game.