Stanford Football: Where do the Cardinal stand after loss to Oregon?

The Stanford football program continues to struggles after yet another loss — their third in a row — this week at the hands of the No. 16 ranked Oregon Ducks.

The 2019 season hasn’t exactly gone to plan for Stanford football. After a dominant defensive victory in Week 1 over the Northwestern Wildcats, the Cardinal have stumbled to three consecutive losses.

Those three straight defeats mark the first time in David Shaw‘s nine-year tenure in Palo Alto that Stanford has suffered three losses in a row. It’s uncharted territory for the Cardinal and it leaves many questioning, where does this team go from here?

Stanford now sits at just 1-3 on the season and have opened up Pac-12 play with two conference losses. At this point, their division title hopes are obviously a distant memory and now the team will simply be looking to salvage a bowl game.

But even finishing .500 should prove difficult for a Stanford team that looks lost at the moment.

The Cardinal will travel to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers next week in a game that looks very winnable on paper. Following that, they will enter a three-game homestand against Washington, UCLA, and Arizona.

Aside from Washington, those are two games that should be a breath of fresh air after an incredibly difficult early part of their schedule. In fact, all three of Oregon State, UCLA, and Arizona have losses to Group of Five teams this season.

However, if Stanford is to qualify for a bowl game, they may very well have to win each of those games.

A late-season gauntlet that includes the likes of Colorado and Washington State on the road, a matchup with their much-improved rivals in Cal, and a meeting with longtime adversaries Notre Dame highlight a brutal end to the season.

Stanford Football: Is a bowl bid even a reasonable possibility after UCF loss?. light. Must Read

Even if Stanford were to win all three of their easier games, they would still need to pull off two upset victories in games they’ll be considered underdogs to finish with six wins.

It’s possible, especially in the wacky world of college football. But it isn’t probable. At least given how the team has been playing over the first four weeks of the season.

More from Golden Gate Sports

While the defense has done its best to keep the Cardinal in most games, the team’s offense looks completely lost out there. Quarterback K.J. Costello hasn’t looked the same since returning from his Week 1 head injury and is now dealing with a thumb injury.

The running game has been adequate but lacking the explosiveness of previous Stanford teams. And the roster is void of many playmakers on offense after graduating the likes of J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Bryce Love, and Kaden Smith a year ago.

But everything starts up front with the offensive line.

Stanford has been rotating inexperienced freshmen with struggling veterans following multiple graduations and early-season injuries. The most notable injury was suffered by preseason All-American left tackle Walker Little which will keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Stanford’s offense is beat up, Shaw’s offensive gameplan is anemic, and the offensive line isn’t helping matters.