Records: Stanford (0-0, 0-0 ACC); TCU (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
2023 records: Stanford 3–9, 2–7/tied for 9th in Pac-12; TCU 5–7, 3–6/tied for 9th in Big 12
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT Friday at Stanford Stadium
TV: ESPN
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM
Series history: TCU leads 3-0. The last meeting came in 2017 when the Horned Frogs rallied from a 21-3 deficit to win 39-37 in the Alamo Bowl. San Jose native Cole Bunce kicked a 33-yard field goal with 3:07 remaining to give the Horned Frogs the victory. TCU also won 38-36 at Stanford in 2007 and 31-14 in Fort Worth in 2008 during the Jim Harbaugh era. Stanford will open the 2027 season at TCU.
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Stanford storylines: The Cardinal enters the ACC with low expectations, at least externally – Stanford was picked to finish last in the 17-team league. But while last offseason was marked by uncertainty – the retirement of coach David Shaw and the departure of 17 starters – there is stability entering this season. Stanford is one of seven programs in the country to return its entire coaching staff, joining Utah, Liberty, Louisville, NC State, Wake Forest, and Florida State. Stanford ranks second nationally in returning production rankings compiled by ESPN’s Bill Connelly, returning roughly 85% of its production from last year. Only Iowa State (86%) ranks higher.
TCU storylines: Former Cal coach Sonny Dykes took the Horned Frogs to the national champion game in his first season at TCU, but then the team fell to 5-7 last year. So which season is closer to TCU’s true level? The media thinks it was 5-7 – the Horned Frogs were picked to finish 10th in the 16-team Big 12. TCU is a nine-point favorite at Stanford, but lost its opener last season as a 21-point favorite in Deion Sanders’ debut at Colorado.
Stats that matter: Stanford has won the last nine times it has opened a season at home, dating back to 2008, but went 0-7 at Stanford Stadium last season in Troy Taylor’s first year in charge. … Redshirt sophomore Elic Ayomanor burst onto the scene last year with 1,013 receiving yards, the eighth-most in a single season in Stanford history. Ayomanor and Tiger Bachmeier combined for 1,422 receiving yards in 2023, the most receiving yards by a freshman duo in the NCAA.
