As Stanford looks to bounce back from back-to-back losses that effectively dashed its playoff hopes, the Cardinal could be without one of the most dynamic playmakers in all of college football.
In the third quarter of Stanford’s 52-16 loss to Washington State, Christian McCaffrey sustained an unspecified injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the game. As Stanford preps for its annual rivalry game with Notre Dame, David Shaw described the multi-dimensional running back as “pretty beaten up” but again failed to divulge the nature of the injury.
A final decision on McCaffrey’s availability likely won’t be made until Friday or Saturday, Shaw did acknowledge.
A finalist for the 2015 Heisman Trophy, McCaffrey currently leads the Cardinal in rushing (520 yards), rushing touchdowns (three), yards per carry (5.3), receptions (18), punt returns (8.0 average) and kick returns (22.8 average).
His 188.2 all-purpose yards per game is third nationally, but he has not scored a touchdown since Week 2 and has just 84 rushing yards total the last two weeks.
“We have been inconsistent one through 11,” Shaw said of the running game struggles. “It looks like the offensive line because we didn’t run with any efficiency early in the game and because of the sacks. We all have a hand in it.”