Santa Clara, Ca – The Stage was ready for a Champion to arise at Levi’s Stadium for 2015 College Football Championship, that McCaffrey University! Stanford defeated USC 41-22 in grand finally of the conference. Just like so many other teams before the Trojans they just couldn’t stop Christian McCaffrey who had 461 All Purpose yards (207 Rushing, 11 Passing, 105 Receiving, 62 yards Special Teams)
It’s hard to game plan for a big player but when it’s someone like McCaffrey who ran, caught, & passed a Touchdown. Now the pressure will turn to Heisman Voters who will be inviting him to New York, will this super Sophomore dawn the trophy? After today’s performance he broke Barry Sanders single season all purpose yards record.
The teams battle and took each other best shot, Stanford had to earn this win because The Trojans defense gave a valiant effort. With their offense struggling they just couldn’t keep pace with the Cardinals. Coach Clay Helton stuck with his identity of running the ball, his backs combined for 210 yards on the ground. Justin Davis was the featured back who had 17 carries for 105 yards while Ronald Jones had 6 carries for 51 yards and touchdown.
Both quarterbacks are 5th year seniors leading their teams which is very rare in this day in age. Stanford’s Kevin Hogan an efficient night competing 9-12 pass for 144 yards and touchdown. While USC Cody Kessler threw twice as much with 22-37 for 187 yards with a touchdown. Kessler need to throw more trying to catch up but his receivers just were not focused dropping balls all night. Stanford defensive back stepped up and matched JuJu Smith-Schuster intensity with aggressive tight coverage. At one point one of Cardinals took 15 yard horse collar penalty that was more like a body slam. Smith-Schuster was held to 87 yards on 11 catches and never had that big highlight catch that the Trojans have become accustomed too.
Before the game today the PAC-12 celebrated its Century team that was unveiled this week, a few of the greats were in attendance like UCLA JJ Stokes, USC Reggie Bush yes a loop hole allowed him to attended a USC game, Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Stanford QB’s John Elway & Jim Plunkett too name a few. The Commissioner Larry Scott spoke about the strength of the PAC with 10 of 12 teams being bowl eligible this year. The Pac-12 Champion will always have great strength of schedule because they all play 9 game conference schedule and play in Championship game after that. So making a case to be in CFP (College Football Playoff) will always be backed with on the field proof.
After the game Stanford was all smiles and celebrated a great accomplishment of being the Champions and had no cares about what would happen tomorrow in selection Sunday. No matter what happens at the very least the Cardinals led by Coach David Shaw will be back in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl or be picked by CFP. Shaw spoke about his star during on field postgame celebration, “To my left here is the best player in the nation, I don’t know if that’s even a question. There’s nobody in the nation doing what he’s been doing. It’s not even a debate.”
