Stanford coach David Shaw said this week that he was planning to give backup quarterback Kevin Hogan as many as 20 snaps today against Colorado to try to figure out if a change needed to be made at quarterback.
Hogan definitely got more than 20 snaps, and yes, it looks like a change will be made under center for the Cardinal.
In No. 15 Stanford’s 48-0 rout of the Buffaloes -- Colorado’s first shutout at home in 26 years -- Hogan was an efficient 18-of-23 for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for another 48 yards to lead the team. Season-opener starter Josh Nunes attempted just five passes for 23 yards, and backup Brett Nottingham also got in on some late-game action.
Nothing’s official yet, but if we’re going to derive from what Hogan did today, there’s a good chance he’ll be the first-team quarterback next week in a key Pac-12 North game against Oregon State. The Cardinal have a tough final three games that also includes road trips to Oregon and UCLA. They’re going to need the best player under center, no matter how late in the season a change is made -- if a change is made.