With Boise State losing Friday and LSU dropping its game against Arkansas on Saturday, all Stanford had to do to virtually lock up a BCS bowl berth was to defeat Oregon State. They did that and then some, annihilating Oregon State, 38-0.
Stanford Vs. Oregon State: Big Win Likely Paves Road to BCS Bowl For Stanford
The win — a record 11th on the year for the Cardinal — was Stanford’s third shutout of the year and the tenth time the Cardinal have scored at least 35 points in a game. Their sole loss was to Oregon — a team that, as you might have heard — is having a rather good season this year.
Stanford killed Oregon State with big plays — the Cardinal had seven plays of more than 20 yards; all of Stanford’s five touchdowns came on one of those plays. Those big plays contributed to Stanford piling up 482 yards of total offense. Andrew Luck was 21-of-30 for 317 yards and four touchdowns. Stepfan Taylor had 115 yards on 14 carries, including a 62-yard touchdown run.
Oregon State’s offense never seemed to get in sync. Ryan Katz threw three interceptions and completed just over half his passes (19-of-36, 183 yards, 0 TDs); Jacquizz Rodgers had 76 yards on 17 carries. The longest play for the Beavers covered 21 yards.
With TCU clobbering New Mexico on Saturday to finish up a perfect season, the Horned Frogs will likely take Oregon’s place in the Rose Bowl if the Ducks win next week against Oregon State. (Oregon State, coincidentally, needs a win in that game to get to a bowl at all.) But Stanford is still likely to earn the program’s first BCS bowl berth since going to the Rose Bowl in 1999; the only question now is the destination.
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