On the heels of Florida becoming the first Power Five team to clinch a division title this season, a team further west is rapidly approaching the same feat.
No. 11 Stanford jumped out to a 28-7 halftime lead on Colorado and never looked back, cruising to a 42-10 win that kept the Cardinal (7-0) perfect in Pac-12 play. The win moves Stanford one very big step closer to the North division title and a spot opposite the South winner in the conference championship game. With two conference games remaining, all Stanford needs is to win one, or one Oregon (3-2) loss regardless of what the Cardinal does the rest of the way in the league.
The Cardinal will be looking to play in their third Pac-12 title tilt since the inaugural event in 2011. The three appearances would break a tie with Oregon for most appearances.
As is ofttimes the case, it was Christian McCaffrey leading the way for the Cardinal in their latest quest for a divisional crown.
The multi-purpose Heisman contender put together 286 all-purpose yards, but that total came with a twist. McCaffrey was his usual stat-stuffing self in the running game (147 yards), pass-catching game (15 yards on three receptions) and return game (46 yards on a pair of kick returns), with the running back accomplishing something he hadn’t done not only this season but in his career: tossed a touchdown, connecting with Austin Hooper on a 28-yard pass very early in the fourth quarter.
.@CMccaffrey5 28-yard touchdown PASS to Austin Hooper. 👀 He can do it all! #GoStanford #BeatCU pic.twitter.com/9VvhtGAWJ1
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 7, 2015
McCaffrey was part of an offense that doubled up the Buffs in yards, 472-231. The Buffs managed just 4.4 yards per play against a dominating Cardinal defense.